South Korea considers scrapping military exercises with the US ahead of the Winter Olympics

Option has been on the table 'for a very long time'

(Reuters)

South Korea is reportedly considering scrapping a regular military exercise with US forces next year to minimise the risk of an aggressive North Korean reaction when it holds the Winter Olympics.

The secretive communist state regularly accuses its neighbour of preparing to invade it with American help. In response it has conducted ballistic missile tests, some of which have been flown over the Japanese mainland.

North Korea also conducted its largest ever nuclear test in September which triggered a magnitude 5 earthquake. The world united to condemn the display of “fanatic recklessness” by Kim Jong-un’s military, with even its closest allies denouncing the explosion.

With the Winter Olympics due to be held in South Korea in February, followed by the Paralympics, the following month, the country is keen to avoid trouble during the showcase event.

Citing an unidentified South Korean presidential office official, state run news agency Yonhap said the option of scrapping the exercise had been considered for "a very long time".

The Blue House presidential office said in a statement no decision has been made on the exercise. Officials at the defence ministry declined to comment.

The South Korean and US militaries usually hold a military exercise in March and April called Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, which involves about 17,000 US troops and more than 300,000 South Koreans.

South Korea is hopeful that North Korean participation in the games could help improve their fraught relations. The South has said any North Korean athletes who are eligible for the competition would be welcome.

A North Korean figure skating pair has qualified to compete but their participation has not been confirmed.

Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high for the past year with North Korea developing its nuclear weapons and missiles in defiance of international condemnation and UN sanctions.

While North Korea has not conducted any tests over the past two months, it has repeatedly vowed to never give up the weapons it deems it needs to protect itself against what it sees as US aggression.