{
  "id": 1452129,
  "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to cut back military exercises with South Korea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-orders-pentagon-to-cut-back-military-exercises-with-south-korea-1452129",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T08:51:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Jakarta Post",
    "slug": "the-jakarta-post",
    "url": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2026/08/17/trump-orders-pentagon-to-cut-back-military-exercises-with-south-korea.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Sunday, President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to significantly reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the high costs and Seoul's refusal to participate in actions against Iran. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, involving around 18,000 South Korean military personnel, were set to run until August 27. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the US agreeing to participate in the drills, stating they send an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea, which has been unthreatening and respectful during his presidency. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the drills began as scheduled. The South Korean presidential Blue House expressed hopes that improved relations between the US and North Korean leaders would lead to meaningful dialogue and peace on the Korean Peninsula. The allies would continue coordinating on defense posture and military exercises. Trump claimed that South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had refused to join US efforts to denuclearize Iran, but Seoul is now discussing potential military contributions while considering domestic legal procedures.",
  "summary": "US President Donald Trump on Sunday instructed the Pentagon to \"substantially reduce\" joint military exercises with long-term Asian ally South Korea, citing the cost of the drills and Seoul's refusal to take part in actions against Iran.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KBS World Radio",
        "title": "Trump Orders Pentagon to 'Substantially Reduce' S. Korea-US Joint Military Exercises",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-orders-pentagon-to-substantially-reduce-s-korea-us-joint",
        "published": "2026-08-17T04:32:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to cut back military exercises with South Korea, citing costs and lack of help with Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-orders-pentagon-to-cut-back-military-exercises-with-south-korea",
        "published": "2026-08-17T04:42:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Fake Iran nuke claim from Indian X account jolted Netanyahu and Team Trump. Here’s how",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/fake-iran-nuke-claim-from-indian-x-account-jolted-netanyahu-and-team",
        "published": "2026-08-17T05:53:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to cut back military exercises with South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-orders-pentagon-to-cut-back-military-exercises-with-south-korea-1439820",
        "published": "2026-08-17T06:31:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Trump cuts military drills with South Korea citing ‘very good relationship’ with Kim Jong-un – US politics live",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-cuts-military-drills-with-south-korea-citing-very-good",
        "published": "2026-08-17T10:03:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Hours before start, Trump orders ‘substantial’ reduction of military drills with South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/hours-before-start-trump-orders-substantial-reduction-of-military",
        "published": "2026-08-17T10:33:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Trump orders Pentagon to cut back military drills with Seoul hours before start",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-orders-pentagon-to-cut-back-military-drills-with-seoul-hours",
        "published": "2026-08-17T10:56:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Heavy rains kill 1 in South Korea and flood major streets in Philippines",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/heavy-rains-kill-1-in-south-korea-and-flood-major-streets-in-1474049",
        "published": "2026-08-17T11:05:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Heavy rains kill 1 in South Korea and flood major streets in Philippines",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/heavy-rains-kill-1-in-south-korea-and-flood-major-streets-in",
        "published": "2026-08-17T11:23:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Trump scales down war games with South Korea: Why it matters",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-scales-down-war-games-with-south-korea-why-it-matters",
        "published": "2026-08-17T12:20:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}