Trump Says US Scaling Back 'Inappropriate' Military Drills with South Korea Hours Before Start
President Donald Trump has ordered a reduction in the scale of joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with Kim Jong Un and the high costs of the drills. The decision comes as South Korea prepares for the annual 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' exercise amid rising tensions with North Korea.
Why it matters
This move signals a potential shift in US-South Korea defense policy and highlights the ongoing geopolitical complexities of the Korean Peninsula.
August 17, 2026 | 10:28 am SHARE URL berhasil di salin. FILE - North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump cross south of the Military Demarcation Line that divides North and South Korea, after Trump briefly stepped over to the northern side, in the Joint Security Area (JSA) of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on June 30, 2019. (AFP Photo/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI) Seoul. US President Donald Trump said "inappropriate and hostile" military drills with South Korea designed to prepare for a possible attack by the North would be scaled back hours before they started on Monday.
Trump's comments ahead of the annual "Ulchi Freedom Shield" exercise in South Korea showed his willingness to challenge long-standing military alliances, as he recalled his negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term.
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