Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea

President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to reduce joint exercises with South Korea on Sunday, claiming the country had refused to assist in denuclearizing Iran. This directive follows just before two significant annual joint exercises were scheduled to commence between U.S. and South Korean forces. Furthermore, it arrives days after North Korea resumed ballistic missile testing, actions prohibited by the United Nations.

Both South Korea and the United States emphasized that the 11-day exercises are intended to bolster their defensive capabilities against potential threats from North Korea.