Trump orders reduction in US–South Korea military drills, cites Kim Jong Un ties

US President Donald Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the high costs involved and his relationship with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. According to Trump, the exercises, which were set to begin shortly, send a "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal to North Korea.

The decision comes after Trump said South Korea declined to join the US in the denuclearisation of Iran. The exercises, which involve around 18,000 South Korean soldiers, were designed to strengthen readiness against North Korean threats.

Neither Seoul nor Pyongyang has commented on the decision. The move comes after North Korea conducted ballistic missile tests earlier this month that are banned by the United Nations.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Punch, The Age, BBC News, South China Morning Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.