Drills cut by Trump are central to the US-South Korea alliance

For decades, the United States and South Korea have conducted military drills to prepare for potential crises with North Korea. However, this year's Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, one of the two main drills, may be disrupted after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a significant reduction in its scale. The decision, which cited a strong relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea's reluctance to join the U.S. war against Iran, has raised concerns about the impact on the US-South Korea alliance.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield, a computer-simulated exercise, is a crucial component of the alliance, which dates back to the 1950-53 Korean War. Many experts believe that the move threatens to weaken the combined readiness of the U.S.-South Korea forces. South Korea's military had planned 14 field training exercises, but it remains unclear how many will actually take place.

The decision could delay the planned transition to a system where wartime operational control is exercised by a South Korean general, which South Korean President Lee Jae Myung views as a matter of national sovereignty.