{
  "id": 1359154,
  "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-orders-pentagon-to-scale-back-joint-exercises-with-south-korea-1359154",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T22:01:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PBS NewsHour",
    "slug": "pbs-newshour",
    "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-orders-pentagon-to-scale-back-joint-exercises-with-south-korea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea. The exercises, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, were scheduled to run from August 17 to 27 and involve 18,000 South Korean soldiers. According to the Associated Press, the drills were designed to enhance readiness against North Korean threats and include joint operations in complex scenarios.\n\nTrump announced the decision on social media, stating that the exercises were \"costly\" and sent a \"totally inappropriate and hostile\" signal to North Korea, which he claimed had been \"unthreatening and respectful\" during his presidency. He also mentioned that South Korea had declined to help denuclearize Iran, which was a factor in his decision.\n\nThe exercises have been scaled back, although it was too late to cancel them entirely, Trump said. The US president also cited his \"very good relationship\" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-orders-pentagon-to-scale-back-joint-exercises-with-south-korea-1358302",
        "published": "2026-08-16T21:53:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-orders-pentagon-to-scale-back-joint-exercises-with-south-korea-1366358",
        "published": "2026-08-16T22:26:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC",
        "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-orders-pentagon-to-scale-back-joint-exercises-with-south-korea-1371355",
        "published": "2026-08-16T22:51:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Trump orders Pentagon chief to 'substantially' reduce S. Korea-US military drills",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-orders-pentagon-chief-to-substantially-reduce-s-korea-us",
        "published": "2026-08-16T23:07:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}