President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to curb upcoming U.S.-South Korea military drills, saying they are costly and send a hostile signal to Kim Jong Un. The directive came a day before the start of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise.
Trump Scales Back US‑South Korea Military Drills Amid North Korea Missile Tests
Trump posted on Truth Social that the exercises cost too much and are inappropriate, noting his good relationship with Kim. He argued the drills send a hostile message that contradicts his diplomatic outreach.
He also criticized Seoul for refusing to join U.S. efforts to denuclearize Iran, saying the South Korean president declined a request to participate. Trump said the refusal undermines the broader push against Iran’s nuclear program.
The Pentagon will scale back the drills rather than cancel them, a move that follows recent North Korean missile launches. Officials say the adjustment aims to reduce costs while maintaining readiness.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry called the drills a rehearsal for an aggressive war, while U.S. Indo‑Pacific Command said the latest missile launch did not pose an immediate threat. The assessment reflects a cautious stance despite Pyongyang’s provocative actions.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield, an 11‑day joint exercise involving about 18,000 South Korean troops and 28,500 U.S. personnel, is set to begin Monday. The routine maneuvers are intended to strengthen defense readiness across the Korean Peninsula.
Recent missile tests on Aug. 5 and Aug. 12 have heightened tensions, with North Korea asserting that the drills threaten its security. The launches come amid a broader escalation of Pyongyang’s weapons activity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that North Korea is using the Russia‑Ukraine war to refine its weapons, saying Moscow is deploying additional North Korean troops and missiles. He said this cooperation could enhance Pyongyang’s missile capabilities.
Zelenskyy added that North Korean missile improvements and troops could later threaten Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and other regional states. He cautioned that the expanded threat may extend beyond the current battlefield.
This is not the first time Trump has reduced joint exercises; after his first Singapore summit with Kim, he called the drills provocative and expensive. He previously labeled the war games a financial burden and a strategic misstep.
