US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to reduce the scale of upcoming joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the cost of the drills and his desire to improve relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Trump said the exercises could send a hostile message to North Korea and argued that the drills were not necessary on their current scale. He also expressed frustration over South Korea’s position on US efforts related to Iran.
The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise began as scheduled and is expected to continue through August 27. The drills involve South Korean and US troops, along with personnel from other countries participating under the United Nations Command.
Trump said it was too late to cancel the exercises completely but instructed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to scale them back. The Pentagon has not yet provided details on which activities or troop deployments could be affected by the decision.
South Korea has said the exercise will proceed as planned, while officials in Seoul are reviewing Trump’s remarks. The country has also expressed support for efforts that could help create conditions for dialogue with North Korea.
The decision has sparked concerns among some officials and security experts about military readiness and deterrence on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has repeatedly criticised the US-South Korea exercises, describing them as preparations for a possible military conflict.
