South Korea says US cancelled upcoming joint marine exercises over Iran war

South Korea has informed the US that the upcoming joint marine exercises, known as Ssangyong, have been cancelled due to constraints on force availability caused by the recent US-Israel war on Iran. A South Korean Marine Corps spokesman stated that the US Marine Corps formally notified them in June that their ability to deploy forces during the Ssangyong exercise was limited due to the Middle East situation.

The biennial drills involve South Korean and US marine forces, aiming to enhance combined operations including warships, aircraft, and ground forces practicing amphibious landings. Seoul and Washington are continuing consultations to resume the amphibious exercise, though the details were not provided. The Pentagon has yet to comment on the matter.

This decision comes after US President Donald Trump's recent order to reduce a separate annual joint military exercise due to cost concerns and South Korea's refusal to participate in the war on Iran.