U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis in Seoul on Thursday defended President Trump’s surprise decision to suspend joint ROK-U.S. military exercises, while insisting American commitment to South Korea’s defense is “ironclad.”

Speaking at a joint press conference with South Korean Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo, Mattis argues the controversial suspension of the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian (UFG) drill would allow for relations between Pyongyang and Washington to improve.

“The recent decision to suspend the Freedom Guardian exercise creates increased opportunity for our diplomats to negotiate, increasing prospects for a peaceful solution on the Korean peninsula,” Mattis told press at the ROK