Trump scales back US-South Korea drills over his ‘very good relationship’ with Kim Jong Un
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in joint US-South Korean military exercises, saying his decision was influenced by his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his view that the drills send a hostile signal to Pyongyang.
In a social media post, Trump said he was unhappy that the United States had agreed to participate in the exercises with South Korea. He described the drills as costly and said they were sending an “inappropriate and hostile” message to a country he said had been “unthreatening and respectful” during his presidency.
Trump said it was too late to cancel the exercises entirely and that he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce them. His announcement came as the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises were getting underway on the Korean Peninsula.
Trump points to Kim Jong Un relationship
Trump directly linked his decision to his relationship with Kim, writing that his “very good relationship” with the North Korean leader was behind his opposition to the joint exercises.
including summits in Singapore and Vietnam and a meeting at the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. Those talks did not produce an agreement on North Korea's nuclear program.
Trump has continued to signal an interest in renewed engagement with Kim during his second presidency. North Korea, however, has continued to criticize joint US-South Korean military exercises, which it has long described as preparations for war.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise was subsequently shortened following Trump's directive.
South Korean officials said the large-scale summer exercise, originally scheduled to continue through August 27, would end after five days, while some field training activities would also be reduced.
The annual exercises are a major part of military coordination between Washington and Seoul and involve training designed to prepare the allies for potential threats on the Korean Peninsula.
Reports said the decision to reduce the drills came as officials continued discussions about security cooperation and North Korea.
Trump also raises Iran dispute
Trump's post also referred to a separate disagreement involving Iran.
He said he had asked South Korean President Lee Jae Myung whether South Korea wanted to join US efforts toward the denuclearization of Iran and said the answer was, “No thanks!”
South Korea's position on Iran was not the only reason Trump gave for reducing the exercises, but he included it in the same announcement about the military drills.
A source reported that Trump had cited both his relationship with Kim and South Korea's refusal to support US efforts involving Iran.
The latest development comes as the United States and South Korea continue to maintain their military alliance while also discussing ways to address North Korea's nuclear threat.
South Korean and US officials reaffirmed their commitment to close cooperation in a recent discussion between their top diplomats.
Trump has questioned cost of military drills before
Trump has previously questioned the cost of US military exercises and sought changes to the scale of joint drills with South Korea.
During his first term, he suspended some major exercises after his first summit with Kim in 2018, describing them at the time as expensive and unnecessary.
The exercises were later resumed in different forms as relations with North Korea remained unresolved.
