March 7 (AP) The annual exercise between South Korea and US forces this month due to the coronavirus epidemic has now taken place on a smaller scale. The officials gave this information on Sunday. Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the allies decided to begin the 9-day exercise Monday, given factors such as diplomatic efforts and peace-making efforts for peace and nuclear disarmament in the Korean Peninsula. It said that these exercises are defensive in nature and it is mainly known that field training is not going to be done in them. In the last few years, the practice has been canceled after some soldiers were infected with covid-19. In recent years, many countries have postponed or downsized their regular exercises to create opportunities for the US leadership to persuade North Korea to nuclear disarmament. However, there is still a deadlock in these diplomatic efforts. Military practice between the US and South Korea is a major cause of bitterness in the peninsula. North Korea sees these exercises as pre-invasion preparations and has been testing its weapons in response. In January, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un asked the US to stop hostile policy and cease US military exercises with South Korea. Also Read: Health worker gets infected after taking second dose of vaccine 5 members of same family were killed in Pak, reason aid to be 'Hindu family' Asian Champion defeated World Champion in International Boxing Tournament