(CNN) The United States and South Korea are expected to announce in the coming days that annual military exercises between the two nations are to be scaled back, according to a US defense official. The large-scale military exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, had been scheduled for this spring. Now, according to the official, the US and South Korea will instead conduct scaled down exercises at a small unit level that could involve virtual training. Defense officials say they can achieve the necessary training goals through the pared down exercises. The US has already suspended several larger military exercises as part of an effort to ease tensions with North Korea following the last year's Singapore summit between the two leaders.

Source: CNN March 01, 2019 21:46 UTC