South Korea president calls for military independence in wake of Trump call to cut joint drills
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is pushing for independent military control following Donald Trump's decision to reduce joint military exercises. Trump cited his positive relationship with Kim Jong-un as the reason for scaling back the drills.
Why it matters
This shift signals a potential strain in the US-South Korea alliance and raises concerns about regional security stability in the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea's military displays its ballistic missiles in September 2025. Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea because North Korea had been ‘unthreatening’. Photograph: SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images South Korea's military displays its ballistic missiles in September 2025. Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea because North Korea had been ‘unthreatening’. Photograph: SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images South Korea South Korea president calls for military independence in wake of Trump call to cut joint drills Lee Jae Myung reiterates desire for full command back in Seoul’s hands after Donald Trump cuts joint exercises, citing warm ties with Kim Jong-un
‘Inane, haphazard decision’ by Trump to gut South Korea alliance
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