内容摘要：By Kim RahnAny North Korean nuclear or missile provocation before the PyeongChang Winter Olympics ne

By Kim Rahn

Any North Korean nuclear or missile provocation before the PyeongChang Winter Olympics next February will influence Seoul and Washington to withdraw their consideration of delaying their joint military drills during the Olympic period, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Wednesday.

The remark comes a day after President Moon Jae-in said in an interview with U.S. broadcaster NBC that South Korea proposed postponing the annual military exercises until after the Olympics to reduce tension on the Korean Peninsula if North Korea does not make any provocations.

The Olympic Games will be held from Feb. 9 to 25 and the Paralympic Games, from March 9 to 18, while the annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises are usually held around early March.

When asked whether Seoul will scrap the exercise postponement idea if Pyongyang makes a provocation before the Olympics, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said, "Of course the two (delay and provocation) are linked. If the North makes a provocation, we will have to make a decision at that time, but I'm sure the provocation will affect the decision."

He added a provocation by the North would cause negative sentiment toward Pyongyang from international society and possibly bring more sanctions from the United Nations Security Council.

"So the consideration of delaying military drills is a sign toward the North (not to make a provocation)," the official said.

He said Seoul proposed the delay idea to Washington and is waiting for the latter's answer. "We believe the U.S. will make a decision after taking various international situations into consideration."

When asked about the possibility of Seoul and Washington deferring more exercises in the future if the North does not make any provocations until the Olympics are over, the official said that was unknown for the moment. "For now, the suspension proposal is limited to this Olympic period," he said.

The official added Seoul and Washington are considering "delaying" the drills, not "curtailing" them. In the NBC interview, the interviewer said Moon was considering even curtailing frequent military exercises with the U.S., but Cheong Wa Dae said Moon did not say this, disclosing his Korean-version remarks.

Some point out that the exercise delay proposal is in line with China's "freeze for freeze" suggestion to resolve the North Korea issue ― suspending North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations and the South Korea-U.S. military drills at the same time.

But the official said the exercise postponement proposal doesn't mean South Korea had accepted the Chinese suggestion, stressing it was only as a means to hold the Olympics peacefully. "If North Korea participates in the Olympics and the Games are held peacefully, it may bring a better environment for dialogue. But it's early to conclude that peaceful Olympics will directly lead to such a mood."

In Tuesday's interview, Moon said for North Korea to halt provocations until the Olympics are over will help the safety of the Games. "This will then create a mood for dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea, between South Korea and North Korea," he said. "If so, South Korea and the U.S. will consider delaying the joint military drills scheduled to be held during the Olympic period. I have already proposed this to the U.S., which is reviewing it. All of this depends on North Korea."