I actually agree with him re the exercises, but for different reasons.
Yes. armies should train together, but to me they should do it in a non antagonizing way. Train together somewhere else. The South Korean army can do as they like, but when armies from different countries train together, I think they should do it away from the problem nation.
I recall last year there was a big exercise that the UK took part in. It was in Australia. Yes, the PRC complained like hell about but, but they had no grounds to complain. It was nowhere near them. But the exercises still gave various militaries, many from the South China Sea nations, a chance to train together with the west and identify any issues.
Nations should be trying to get the DPRK to talk. Not standing on their doorstep banging a big explosive drum.
We should be trying to break down walls. No matter how futile it seems. Exercises like this, in my view are just building the war higher.
I am all for small specialized units from different countries training together in the danger area. But big exercises like this with 10s of thousands of troops, nah. And add the danger of a stray shell, or a light trigger.