US-South Korea military drills expected to be halved as Trump pushes for Kim Jong Un meeting
South Korean media reported US President Donald Trump's orders to "substantially reduce" US participation in the exercises and his mention of his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader.
South Korea and the United States are reportedly reducing the number of military drills by half, according to various South Korean media outlets. US President Donald Trump issued an order to the Pentagon on Sunday to significantly decrease US involvement in the annual exercise, referencing his strong relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The Pentagon has not yet commented on the matter, while the US Forces Korea directed inquiries to the Pentagon. South Korea's defense ministry also declined to provide a statement.
Trump is reportedly pushing for a meeting with Kim Jong Un as soon as this fall, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper cites US officials who claim that the president has privately discussed setting up an in-person discussion with Kim during his upcoming trip to Asia in November, which includes the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Shenzhen, China. However, Reuters was unable to independently verify the report.
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