South Korea's Lee calls for stronger military after Trump cuts drills
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is calling for increased independent military capabilities following President Trump's decision to reduce joint U.S.-South Korean military drills. Trump cited his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a reason for scaling back the exercises, which he labeled as hostile.
Why it matters
This shift in U.S. military policy signals a potential realignment in regional security dynamics and tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged his nation to boost its independent military capabilities Tuesday after President Donald Trump ordered a cut to join U.S.-South Korean military exercises. Lee made the statement during a meeting with his cabinet on Tuesday, a day after the annual joint Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises began. Trump announced on social media this weekend that he ordered War Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" U.S. involvement in the drills. Trump's statement expressed concern that the drills presented an overly hostile tone toward North Korea, whose leader, Kim Jong Un, Trump spoke of with warm words. TRUMP ORDERS MAJOR CUT TO US-SOUTH KOREA DRILLS AS NORTH KOREA RAMPS UP MISSILE TESTS Lee emphasized in his cabinet meeting that Ulchi Freedom Shield is a purely defensive exercise.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in