South Korea

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced Friday that he was suspending all major military exercises with the South Koreans.

The Pentagon has canceled the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise with South Korea.

The freeze on exercises was not included in the joint declaration by Trump and Kim Jong Un after the summit.

The Missile Defense Agency is looking at THAAD placement sites on the West Coast to guard against the North Korean threat.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was an exception, saying he was consulted on the halt to military exercises with South Korea.

The U.S. is also prepared should North Korea resume test missile launches, officials said.

The defection was the first one involving a military officer since 2008 and the 14th involving a soldier since 2000.

A Pentagon spokesman said the strategic bombers were never scheduled to be part of the joint exercises with South Korea.