US-South Korea drills cut short after Trump order: What he wants from North Korea
The US and South Korea have shortened their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises following an order from President Donald Trump. The decision to reduce the scope of the drills, which now end early, is intended to facilitate diplomatic relations with North Korea.
Why it matters
This move highlights a shift in US defense strategy and potential friction regarding the readiness of the US-South Korea alliance in the face of North Korean nuclear threats.
South Korea and the United States have agreed to shorten their annual joint military exercises from 11 days to five, following President Donald Trump’s order to “substantially reduce” the US role in the drills.The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which began on August 17, will now end on Friday, August 21, instead of August 27, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Pentagon official said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.The allies will also scale back some joint field training exercises, while parts of the programme will be cancelled or shifted to computer simulations.The changes came after Trump instructed the Pentagon on Sunday to reduce the exercises, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.Trump has also said Kim responded to his recent outreach, although he has not disclosed details of the contact.Second phase of drills likely scrappedSouth Korea's defence minister Ahn Gyu-back said the second phase…
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