President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to reduce the scope of upcoming U.S.-South Korea military exercises. He expressed concerns about their cost and the potential negative message they send to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Trump criticized South Korea for not supporting U.S. efforts to denuclearize Iran. Writing on Truth Social, he voiced his dissatisfaction with the military arrangement between Washington and Seoul:
“Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea,” Trump wrote.
The decision was announced before the Ulchi Freedom Shield, an 11-day annual joint military exercise, was set to begin. These exercises are meant to bolster defense across the Korean Peninsula, where 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed. This year’s exercise involves about 18,000 South Korean troops, consistent with previous years.
North Korea has opposed these drills, labeling them “a rehearsal for an aggressive war.” The directive to scale back follows North Korea’s recent weapons testing, including two ballistic missile launches this month.
U.S. officials have stated the recent North Korean missile tests pose no immediate threat and reaffirmed their commitment to regional defense.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Pyongyang of using Russia’s war in Ukraine to test military technology. He noted North Korea’s collaboration with Russia, suggesting additional deployments and missile improvements.
This scaling back of exercises is not new. Trump previously reduced exercises with South Korea, calling them “provocative” and costly following his summit with Kim Jong-un in Singapore.
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