Presidential office expects N. Korea-US leaders' friendship to lead to dialogue

The presidential office in Seoul expressed hope on Monday that the friendship between the leaders of North Korea and the United States would pave the way for bilateral talks focused on achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula. This optimism followed a reported directive from President Donald Trump to reduce joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea.

Trump's social media post on Sunday announced that he had instructed the Pentagon to substantially decrease the frequency of these joint drills, which he deemed both costly and counterproductive, as they sent a hostile and inappropriate message to North Korea. This conciliatory gesture by the U.S. President came as the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, a joint military drill between Seoul and Washington, was scheduled to commence on Monday in South Korea.

North Korea has consistently opposed these annual drills, viewing them as rehearsals for an invasion. The South Korean government acknowledged the significance of President Trump's social media message, stating that they expect friendly relations between the leaders of North Korea and the United States to foster meaningful dialogue between the two nations.