Seoul is not considering scaling back or suspending the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises to help restart inter-Korean dialogue, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Sunday, despite government officials raising the possibility.

During a press briefing in Seoul, Wi dismissed the notion that Seoul may ask Washington to scale back the U.S.-ROK joint military exercises as a means to lower tensions with Pyongyang and kick-start peace negotiations with the regime. 

“We are not directly considering the joint exercises as a card,” he said.

Wi noted that inter-Korean relations under the Lee Jae Myung administration have been limited due to