President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military drills with South Korea, saying he is 'not happy' about the exercises and citing his 'very good relationship' with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Key facts
- Trump says the US will substantially reduce joint military drills with South Korea.
- The president cited his 'very good relationship' with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
- The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise is set to run from Monday until 27 August, according to the Guardian.
- North Korea described the drills as 'a rehearsal for an aggressive war,' according to CNBC.
- US military officials warned Kim's regime is gaining battlefield experience from the Ukraine war, the Guardian reported.
President Donald Trump has said the United States will scale back its joint military exercises with South Korea, according to reporting from the BBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera and the Guardian. The exercises are aimed at deterring North Korea and are a long-standing feature of the US-South Korea alliance.
Trump said he was ‘not happy’ about the drills, citing his ‘very good relationship’ with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to Al Jazeera. The Guardian reported that the president framed the decision as being based on that relationship, describing the reduction as a substantial one.
According to the BBC, Trump’s decision to reduce the partnership came after South Korea recently declined to aid his war effort in Iran. CNBC reported that Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back the joint exercises.
The move comes as North Korea has threatened action. CNBC reported that North Korea on Friday threatened steps against the US and South Korea, describing their military drills as ‘a rehearsal for an aggressive war.’
The Guardian reported that the drills, held under Ulchi Freedom Shield, are one of two major annual exercises conducted by South Korea and the US. The exercise is scheduled to begin on Monday and run until 27 August.
The Guardian also noted that the reduction comes despite warnings from military officials in both countries. Those officials have said Kim Jong Un’s regime was learning new battlefield tactics and boosting its combat capabilities through the war in Ukraine.
Why it matters
The US-South Korea joint exercises are a cornerstone of deterrence against North Korea, so scaling them back could reshape the security balance on the Korean Peninsula. The decision also raises questions about how alliance commitments intersect with wider US foreign policy, including the war in Iran.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Trump scaling back the drills?
Trump said he is 'not happy' about the drills and cited his 'very good relationship' with Kim Jong Un, according to Al Jazeera. The BBC reported the decision came after South Korea recently declined to aid Trump's war effort in Iran.
What are the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills?
According to the Guardian, Ulchi Freedom Shield is one of two major annual exercises held by South Korea and the US, aimed at deterring North Korea. It is scheduled to start Monday and run until 27 August.
How has North Korea responded?
CNBC reported that North Korea on Friday threatened steps against the US and South Korea, describing the military drills as 'a rehearsal for an aggressive war.'