South Korea hopes for talks between US and North Korea after Trump downsizes military drills

Seoul, South Korea (AP) — South Korea expressed hope for resumed U.S.-North Korea dialogue on Monday, hours after President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in annual U.S.-South Korean military exercises. Trump cited his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the decision, though the move confounded many South Koreans, who view national security as a top priority due to threats from the nuclear-armed North.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, a 11-day summer training program, began as scheduled on Monday, but it was unclear which components were being scaled back. North Korea has not yet responded to the announcement. Experts interpret Trump's step as an indication of his willingness to engage Kim, but North Korean leader Kim, emboldened by his growing nuclear arsenal and expanding military cooperation with Russia, is unlikely to resume talks without assurances of substantial U.S. concessions.

In a social media post, Trump stated that the exercises are costly and send a "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal to North Korea, which he claims has been "unthreatening and respectful" during his tenure in the White House. Trump instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reduce the exercises significantly, adding that he recently inquired with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung about joining the U.S. in the "denuclearization" of Iran, to which the South Koreans replied "no thanks."

Trump's action exemplifies the American president seemingly turning against an ally in favor of a leader previously viewed as an adversary, and also highlights his strained relationship with NATO allies over perceived lack of support in his war against Iran, while tackling an increasingly aggressive Russia in the Baltic region. The trust many South Koreans have in the U.S. has diminished following a tariff war initiated by Trump's administration and his transactional approach to security.