Trump orders ‘inappropriate’ U.S.-South Korean military drills scaled back
Citing his ties with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, as well as Seoul's decision not to join U.S.-led actions against Iran, Trump said he was "not happy" with the current situation.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a scaling back of joint military exercises with South Korea, describing them as "costly" and "inappropriate." The exercises, which began on Monday, were a source of concern for Trump, citing his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump argued that the drills, which are primarily funded by the United States, send a hostile signal to South Korea, a nation that has remained unthreatening and respectful throughout Trump's presidency.
Despite the exercises being too late to cancel, Trump instructed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce their size. Trump also mentioned South Korea's decision not to join the U.S. in efforts to denuclearize Iran, which he believes played a role in the reduction of the drills. North Korea views the annual joint exercises as a rehearsal for invasion, while the U.S. and South Korea maintain that they are purely defensive in nature.
The move to reduce the drills has sparked speculation that Trump may again seek opportunities for talks with North Korea. Trump, who met with Kim three times during his first term, has repeatedly described North Korea as a "nuclear power," hinting at the possibility of pursuing arms reduction talks instead of returning to denuclearization efforts from his first term.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
