Trump asks Pentagon to slash military drills with South Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to significantly reduce joint military drills with South Korea due to his strained relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to a statement on social media platform Truth.Social. Trump claimed that these exercises, which cost the United States a significant amount of money, send an "inappropriate and hostile" signal.

He credited South Korea for its "very good relationship," but also noted that Seoul declined an invitation to participate in the denuclearization of Iran. Trump's move comes as North Korea continues to criticize and denounce the joint military exercises, which they view as preparation for invasion. The annual drills, scheduled to run from August 17 to 28, involve operations to counter drones, disrupt GPS signals, and thwart cybersecurity attacks. North Korea recently launched a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan.