{
  "id": 1363204,
  "title": "Trump directs Hegseth to reduce U.S. joint exercises in South Korea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-directs-hegseth-to-reduce-u-s-joint-exercises-in-south-korea",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T21:55:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hill",
    "slug": "the-hill",
    "url": "https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6032392-trump-scales-back-us-south-korea-drills/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "US President Donald Trump has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. According to Trump, the exercises are costly and send a hostile signal to North Korea, with which he claims to have a very good relationship.\n\nThe exercises, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, were set to begin on August 17 and run for 11 days, involving around 18,000 South Korean soldiers. Trump cited South Korea's recent refusal to join the US in denuclearizing Iran as another reason for reducing the drills.\n\nNeither Seoul nor Pyongyang has commented on Trump's announcement. The decision comes after North Korea conducted ballistic missile tests earlier this month that are banned by the United Nations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Trump says US will scale back military drills with South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-says-us-will-scale-back-military-drills-with-south-korea",
        "published": "2026-08-16T21:27:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Trump praises North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, slashes military drills with Seoul",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-praises-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-un-slashes-military",
        "published": "2026-08-16T22:04:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Trump praises North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, slashes military drills with Seoul",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-praises-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-un-slashes-military-1364432",
        "published": "2026-08-16T22:42:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Financial Times",
        "title": "Trump says US will scale back military drills with South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/trump-says-us-will-scale-back-military-drills-with-south-korea-1371926",
        "published": "2026-08-16T23:01:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}