Trump says US to scale back South Korea military drills after it stayed out of Iran war

President Donald Trump has revealed plans to significantly reduce joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, attributing the decision to his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un. Trump criticized these drills for being costly and potentially hostile, pointing out that South Korea had declined to join the US in denuclearizing Iran.

Despite Seoul's statement that the drills would proceed as scheduled, North Korea has not yet commented on the matter. The decision follows North Korea's recent ballistic missile tests, which violate UN sanctions. Trump stated that it was "too late to cancel" the drills, as they were set to commence on Monday. He also mentioned a recent photo of himself and Kim from 2019, noting their friendship despite the "unfriendly look" in the image.

The joint military exercises, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, typically involve around 18,000 South Korean soldiers and are expected to be scaled back this year. Trump's decision to downsize the exercises is not unprecedented, as he had previously suspended them entirely in 2018 and reduced their frequency during the Covid-19 pandemic.