{
  "id": 1444941,
  "title": "Trump seeks to scale back joint drills in bid to lure Kim back to talks, experts say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-seeks-to-scale-back-joint-drills-in-bid-to-lure-kim-back-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T07:47:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/defense/20260817/trump-seeks-to-scale-back-joint-drills-in-bid-to-lure-kim-back-to-talks-experts-say"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "U.S. President Donald Trump has directed a reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea, according to experts, in a bid to re-engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the source indicates. Trump argued that these exercises were expensive and conveyed an inappropriate and hostile message to North Korea, citing his positive relationship with Kim and asserting that the latter had been unthreatening and respectful during his tenure. As the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) was already slated to commence the following day, Trump instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially diminish the annual exercise, as reported on Monday. The directive represents Trump's first attempt to scale back joint drills since the onset of his second term. During his initial term, following their June 2018 summit in Singapore, Trump referred to joint military exercises as well.",
  "summary": "U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea could be an attempt to bring North Korean leader Kim Jong-un back to the negotiating table, experts said Monday. Trump said Sunday that the exercises were costly and sent an \"inappropriate and hostile signal\" to North Korea, citing his \"very good relationship\" with Kim and claiming Pyongyang \"has been…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-orders-pentagon-to-scale-back-joint-exercises-with-south-korea",
        "published": "2026-08-17T00:30:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-orders-pentagon-to-scale-back-joint-exercises-with-south-korea-1425170",
        "published": "2026-08-17T05:21:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "PM Shehbaz praises Trump support for Makkah Joint defence pact",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/pm-shehbaz-praises-trump-support-for-makkah-joint-defence-pact",
        "published": "2026-08-17T07:17:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Trump seeks to scale back joint drills in bid to lure Kim back to talks, experts say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-seeks-to-scale-back-joint-drills-in-bid-to-lure-kim-back-to-1446685",
        "published": "2026-08-17T07:57:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "US and South Korea begin military drills despite Trump call to scale back",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/us-and-south-korea-begin-military-drills-despite-trump-call-to-scale",
        "published": "2026-08-17T09:22:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}