The United States and South Korea are trying to agree on the scale, scope and timing of annual military exercises with the coronavirus threatening to disrupt the travel of US troops, officials in Seoul said on Tuesday.

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper had a telephone call on Tuesday. However,  they could not decide on details of the exercises, which usually begin in early August, Reuters said.

There are about 28,000 US troops in South Korea. US Forces Korea (USFK) has reported nearly 50 cases of the coronavirus among its troops, employees and their families in the past three weeks, including 10 on Monday.

All were confirmed upon arrival or while in two-week mandatory quarantine. The spike in coronavirus cases linked to US forces has raised concern in South Korea.

Source: RT