SINGAPORE, June 12, 2008 (AFP) - Singapore's military has suspended its physical and endurance training for three days after two soldiers died this week, the defence minister said Thursday.

"I support the decision of the SAF to take a time-out on physical and endurance training for three days," Minister of Defence Teo Chee Hean said in a statement.

A pilot trainee collapsed Wednesday afternoon while undergoing jungle orientation training in Brunei and died later in hospital.

In the other incident, a recruit fainted a day earlier during a two-kilometre (1.2-mile) walk at a Singapore training centre and also died in hospital.

The defence minister said the suspension "will allow the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) to review and refocus on such activities to ensure that proper procedures are in place and being followed before such training resumes."

Singapore has one of Asia's most modern armed forces, to which young men are drafted for national service.

"While the SAF needs to carry out realistic training, this will be done without compromise to safety," the minister said.