Trump scales back joint military drills with South Korea, calling them 'hostile'

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to reduce the scale of planned joint military exercises with South Korea, accusing the nation of declining to help denuclearise Iran. Trump claimed the costly drills sent a "totally inappropriate and hostile" message to North Korea. However, South Korea's defence ministry insisted the exercises would go ahead as scheduled.

Trump lambasted North Korea's "unthreatening and respectful" behavior during his time in office, stating he had asked for South Korean involvement in Iran's denuclearisation but was met with a refusal. North Korea threatened unspecified stern measures against the US and South Korea, describing the military drills as a rehearsal for an aggressive war.

Despite the tensions, experts believe North Korea uses these drills as a pretext to increase weapon testing and bolster public support for its leader. The US and South Korean forces were set to conduct complex joint operations, including live-fire exercises and precision targeting. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which were slated to begin this week, aim to enhance alliance readiness in the face of North Korean threats.

The joint training follows North Korea's recent resumption of ballistic missile testing, which is banned by the UN.