{
  "id": 1617143,
  "title": "South Korea’s Lee backs stronger self-defence, says drills not aimed at North Korea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/south-koreas-lee-backs-stronger-self-defence-says-drills-not-aimed-at-1617143",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T02:18:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/08/18/south-korea-s-lee-backs-stronger-self-defence-says-drills-not-aimed-at-north-korea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for stronger self-defence capabilities, stating that annual civil-defence exercises alongside joint US-South Korea military drills are defensive and not intended to threaten North Korea. This statement follows US President Donald Trump's order to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un responded positively to Trump's outreach.\n\nLee emphasized that Seoul should proceed with the planned transfer of wartime operational control from the United States during his term, in line with the existing government plan. He reiterated that a strong alliance with the U.S. strengthens the foundation of security, and enhancing South Korea's independent defence increases its value and necessity as an ally. The U.S.-South Korea alliance and self-defence are mutually reinforcing, Lee said at a cabinet meeting.\n\nMoreover, Lee called for accelerated progress in South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine program and the development of officers capable of integrated operations for future conflicts. He argued that distinctions between battlefields are becoming blurred, necessitating faster advancements in these areas.\n\nAt a National Security Council meeting, Lee affirmed that the civil-defence exercises held concurrently with major US-South Korea military drills are defensive in nature, aimed at safeguarding South Korean lives and safety. He stressed that South Korea has no intention of using these exercises to attack North Korea or raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Instead, their purpose is to protect citizens' daily lives and prevent targeting any specific party as an enemy, according to a statement released by the presidential Blue House.",
  "summary": "President Lee Jae Myung calls for faster nuclear-powered submarine progress as battlefield distinctions become less clear.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Asia Times",
        "title": "Trump appeases North Korea as Kim steps up his Ukraine aggression",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/trump-appeases-north-korea-as-kim-steps-up-his-ukraine-aggression",
        "published": "2026-08-17T19:55:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "BBC breaks down Trump's latest shift on North and South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/bbc-breaks-down-trumps-latest-shift-on-north-and-south-korea",
        "published": "2026-08-17T23:42:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Trump’s slight of South Korea in favor of the North raises broader US security concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/trumps-slight-of-south-korea-in-favor-of-the-north-raises-broader-us-1600998",
        "published": "2026-08-18T00:19:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Trump’s slight of South Korea in favor of the North raises broader US security concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/trumps-slight-of-south-korea-in-favor-of-the-north-raises-broader-us",
        "published": "2026-08-18T00:23:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Trump scales back drills with ‘model ally’ South Korea as US military strains, allies wonder where the US is headed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/trump-scales-back-drills-with-model-ally-south-korea-as-us-military",
        "published": "2026-08-18T01:07:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Trump’s decision to scale back South Korea drills unsettles Asian allies: ‘makes no sense’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/trumps-decision-to-scale-back-south-korea-drills-unsettles-asian",
        "published": "2026-08-18T01:32:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "South Korea’s Lee backs stronger self-defence, says drills not aimed at North Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/south-koreas-lee-backs-stronger-self-defence-says-drills-not-aimed-at-1616154",
        "published": "2026-08-18T02:18:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "South Korea's Lee backs stronger self-defence, says drills not aimed at North Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/south-koreas-lee-backs-stronger-self-defence-says-drills-not-aimed-at",
        "published": "2026-08-18T02:22:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Trump hints at N Korea contact amid tensions with Seoul",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/trump-hints-at-n-korea-contact-amid-tensions-with-seoul",
        "published": "2026-08-18T02:30:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Trump's slight of South Korea in favor of the North raises broader US security concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/trumps-slight-of-south-korea-in-favor-of-the-north-raises-broader-us-1615561",
        "published": "2026-08-18T02:52:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}