"Concerns about Security Blanks on the Korean Peninsula."
Author
Janne Pak
Date
2020-03-11 18:10
(3-10-2020) [live News] by: Janne Pak
@Pentagon Spokesperson Hoffman.
DOD Spokesperson Hoffman said in a briefing today that the United States will have the best defense against security blanks due to South Korea's Corona-19 incident. Meanwhile, Admiral BYRNE said that although the combined military exercises between the United States and the S.Korea has been suspended, but small-scale drill continues.
@Janne Pak asked question to ADM. BYRNE. at the Pentagon briefing.
In addition, the reporter(Janne Pak: Pentagon Correspondent) asked "whether the deployment of U.S. troops to South Korea would not be smooth due to U.S troops' ban on travel to Korea." Said 'it was currently being discussed.'
At the Briefing
Q:(Janne Pak / A: Hoffman and ADM BYRNE)
@Reporting by Janne Pak_at Pentagon briefing room.(3-10-2020).
Q:(Janne Pak): Thank you very much, yeah. So how do you make up the security (inaudible) in South Korea with the COVID-19 and the suspended joint military exercises?
(MR. HOFFMAN): So I think our assessment at this point would be that we have not yet seen any dramatic reduction in readiness or ability of our forces based on COVID-19. In some places, particularly Korea, where -- where the commander on the ground there, General Abrams, has been at the forefront of DOD's response in containing the COVID-19, and taken measures that have been highly, highly aggressive and effective in confronting it and helping secure his personnel from -- from exposure.
And as a result, that force and the Korean military are stepped back from some exercises and some efforts, but the hope is that as the diseases passes or the virus passes and -- and we move into warmer weather, that we'll be able to resume some of those efforts.
And I'll turn it over to Admiral...
@ADM BYRNE is answers Question from Janne Pak.
(ADM. BYRNE): And so those are the large force exercises that are -- that have either been canceled or deferred up to this point. But as far as maintaining readiness on a daily basis, it is a combined force out there. So at the staff-to-staff level, squadron-to-squadron level and small unit-to-small unit, training continues. So we're maximizing every opportunity to maintain our readiness.
Q:(Janne Pak): Are there any disruptions to the U.S. military deployment? Any disruptions, regular military deployment to the South Korea?
(ADM. BYRNE): To South Korea? So we are -- we're reviewing that daily as well, as far as troops moving in and troops moving out. So we're -- we're coming to an agreement across the department as far as personnel movements, especially because the summer move period is coming up soon. So -- so we haven't decided on the department-wide policy yet.
(MR. HOFFMAN): And I would add to that. On the PCS movements, is that's a conversation that's taking place. I think many of you saw, the Army went out on Friday with some direction on PCS movements to Korea and Italy. The other departments are looking at that as well, having a conversation in the department as to how best to -- to choreograph that over the next few days.
The goal is, one, we've got to look at our personnel going into an area that -- that may have a number of cases, or coming from an area that may have a number of cases. And then also the fact that the movement alone itself can put people at risk, and so we want to -- we want to limit all of those.
But I know the general's been a part of a lot of those conversations, as to how best to do that. We've got a number of options that we can work through. And it's all risk-based. So as the situation gets -- gets worse or gets better, we can adjust that. But we do want to do it in a way that protects our personnel, but also helps us ensure that we can continue with the -- with the mission.
by: Janne Pak
(White House and Pentagon Correspondent).
All Copy Right Reserved: article,photo,video on USAJOURNALKOREA Site.
@Pentagon Spokesperson Hoffman.
DOD Spokesperson Hoffman said in a briefing today that the United States will have the best defense against security blanks due to South Korea's Corona-19 incident. Meanwhile, Admiral BYRNE said that although the combined military exercises between the United States and the S.Korea has been suspended, but small-scale drill continues.
@Janne Pak asked question to ADM. BYRNE. at the Pentagon briefing.
In addition, the reporter(Janne Pak: Pentagon Correspondent) asked "whether the deployment of U.S. troops to South Korea would not be smooth due to U.S troops' ban on travel to Korea." Said 'it was currently being discussed.'
At the Briefing
Q:(Janne Pak / A: Hoffman and ADM BYRNE)
@Reporting by Janne Pak_at Pentagon briefing room.(3-10-2020).
Q:(Janne Pak): Thank you very much, yeah. So how do you make up the security (inaudible) in South Korea with the COVID-19 and the suspended joint military exercises?
(MR. HOFFMAN): So I think our assessment at this point would be that we have not yet seen any dramatic reduction in readiness or ability of our forces based on COVID-19. In some places, particularly Korea, where -- where the commander on the ground there, General Abrams, has been at the forefront of DOD's response in containing the COVID-19, and taken measures that have been highly, highly aggressive and effective in confronting it and helping secure his personnel from -- from exposure.
And as a result, that force and the Korean military are stepped back from some exercises and some efforts, but the hope is that as the diseases passes or the virus passes and -- and we move into warmer weather, that we'll be able to resume some of those efforts.
And I'll turn it over to Admiral...
@ADM BYRNE is answers Question from Janne Pak.
(ADM. BYRNE): And so those are the large force exercises that are -- that have either been canceled or deferred up to this point. But as far as maintaining readiness on a daily basis, it is a combined force out there. So at the staff-to-staff level, squadron-to-squadron level and small unit-to-small unit, training continues. So we're maximizing every opportunity to maintain our readiness.
Q:(Janne Pak): Are there any disruptions to the U.S. military deployment? Any disruptions, regular military deployment to the South Korea?
(ADM. BYRNE): To South Korea? So we are -- we're reviewing that daily as well, as far as troops moving in and troops moving out. So we're -- we're coming to an agreement across the department as far as personnel movements, especially because the summer move period is coming up soon. So -- so we haven't decided on the department-wide policy yet.
(MR. HOFFMAN): And I would add to that. On the PCS movements, is that's a conversation that's taking place. I think many of you saw, the Army went out on Friday with some direction on PCS movements to Korea and Italy. The other departments are looking at that as well, having a conversation in the department as to how best to -- to choreograph that over the next few days.
The goal is, one, we've got to look at our personnel going into an area that -- that may have a number of cases, or coming from an area that may have a number of cases. And then also the fact that the movement alone itself can put people at risk, and so we want to -- we want to limit all of those.
But I know the general's been a part of a lot of those conversations, as to how best to do that. We've got a number of options that we can work through. And it's all risk-based. So as the situation gets -- gets worse or gets better, we can adjust that. But we do want to do it in a way that protects our personnel, but also helps us ensure that we can continue with the -- with the mission.
by: Janne Pak
(White House and Pentagon Correspondent).
All Copy Right Reserved: article,photo,video on USAJOURNALKOREA Site.
(Janne Pak, White House Correspondent)
She is the only female Journalist who has been dealing with the Korean Peninsula Issues for over 20 years. Hold the Credentials of the White House,Pentagon,State Department,Congress.
She is the only female Journalist who has been dealing with the Korean Peninsula Issues for over 20 years. Hold the Credentials of the White House,Pentagon,State Department,Congress.
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