US, South Korea slash joint military drills by half as Trump eyes Kim summit

US and South Korean militaries have reduced their joint military drills by half following a request from the US, according to South Korean officials. This decision came shortly after President Donald Trump instructed his Pentagon chief to substantially cut the exercises, citing a positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korea's refusal to join the US war against Iran.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which began on Monday and were initially planned to run for 11 days, will conclude on Friday instead of the originally scheduled August 27. The allies have also agreed to reduce the scope of some joint field training exercises. The Ulchi drills are primarily a computer-simulated command post exercise aimed at enhancing the allies' readiness to handle potential regional security threats, such as North Korean aggression.

Although the exercises are usually accompanied by field training, these components have been partially or entirely cancelled. Both the US and South Korean governments maintain that the drills are defensive in nature and not intended to provoke North Korea or increase tensions on the Korean peninsula. North Korea continues to condemn the drills, labeling the US and South Korea as "warmongers" and stating that it will continue to exercise its right to self-defense against alleged threats.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in South Korea this week for talks that are expected to address developments on the Korean peninsula and regional security concerns.