Seoul and Washington postpone joint air drills

Seoul and Washington decided to delay their wintertime joint air exercises to support diplomacy with Pyongyang, the two allies said on Sunday, which is seen by an analyst as a way to increase US' bargaining position in upcoming nuclear talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and the Republic of Korea's Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo announced the decision at a joint news conference on Sunday.

The joint drills were scheduled to begin in the next few days.