US conservatives warn against Trump sidelining Seoul to pursue talks with North Korea

Conservatives and experts are cautioning against sidelining South Korea (Seoul) when pursuing dialogue with North Korea after US President Donald Trump reduced joint military drills and mentioned North Korea's 57 "powerful" nuclear weapons while seeking a November summit with Kim Jong-un. Fred Fleitz, a former National Security Council chief of staff during Trump's first term, wrote that before reaching out to Kim, Trump should first visit South Korea to meet President Lee Jae Myung.

Fleitz highlighted Seoul's strong cooperation on trade and security, including a 7.5% increase in its 2026 defense budget and agreements on shipbuilding with the US. Fox News reported that Trump faces a North Korea with "far less incentive to strike a deal than during his first term," given its already mature nuclear arsenal and multiple delivery systems.

US Rep. Rich McCormick also criticized Trump for scaling back joint military exercises and urged him to restore them to their original scale, expressing hope that the reduction is temporary. Trump's pursuit of a summit with North Korea seems to stem from a desire to divert attention from the Iran conflict and highlight his accomplishments before the November midterms.

To avoid sidelining Seoul in talks and ensure effective negotiations addressing South Korea's security concerns, it is crucial for the South Korean government to cooperate closely with the US administration.