Trump Says US Scaling Back Military Drills With Seoul Hours Before Start
US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back annual US-South Korean military drills, citing his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The move comes as Pyongyang deepens military ties with Moscow and sends troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced that the Pentagon would reduce the scale of military drills with South Korea, just hours before the exercises were set to begin. The president cited his "good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, expressing his dissatisfaction with the drills that were intended to prepare for a potential attack by Pyongyang.
South Korea's defense ministry stated they would proceed with the annual exercise as previously notified and scheduled, despite Pyongyang's warnings last week. Trump criticized the exercises as "costly" and "hostile," arguing they signaled an inappropriate threat to a country that has been unthreatening and respectful under his presidency.
The 11-day drills, which involved 18,000 South Korean troops and US forces, will focus on drone warfare, GPS disruption, and cyber attacks. Despite the downsizing, experts argue that it will damage alliance coordination, delay South Korea's defense responsibility, and weaken deterrence against potential conflicts in Asia. North Korea has consistently opposed the drills, viewing them as rehearsals for an invasion, and Pyongyang responded to the announcement with a warning that it could retaliate with a "new level of deterrent."
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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