{
  "id": 1649397,
  "title": "South Korea president calls for military independence in wake of Trump call to cut joint drills",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/south-korea-president-calls-for-military-independence-in-wake-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T06:18:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/news/south-korea-president-calls-for-military-independence-in-wake-of-trump-call-to-cut-joint-drills"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for a faster pace in gaining military independence from the United States following President Donald Trump's directive to reduce joint military drills. Trump informed the Pentagon to \"substantially reduce\" the week's joint exercises with South Korea, stating the North Korean regime had been \"unthreatening and respectful\" and that he had a \"very good relationship with Kim Jong-un.\"\n\nLee emphasized in a cabinet meeting that a strong alliance with the US enhances security, while also stressing the need for South Korea to bolster its own capabilities for self-defense. This push for independence stems from the Korean War armistice, which has left the two Koreas technically at war since 1953. The US has stationed troops in South Korea since then, including at Camp Humphreys, the largest American military base outside the US.\n\nWartime operational control, or Opcon, of South Korean forces has been under US command since the war began, overseen by the head of the Combined Forces Command, a position traditionally held by an American four-star general. Seoul regained peacetime control of its military in 1994, but reclaiming wartime Opcon remains a key security goal for South Korea, repeatedly postponed under various administrations.\n\nThe recently postponed joint drills were intended to verify South Korea's readiness to assume wartime Opcon, a process Lee has advocated for intensification during his tenure. He also called for quicker progress on the development of nuclear-powered submarines and officers capable of integrated operations in future conflicts.\n\nThe renewed emphasis on military independence follows Trump's order to cut the planned 10-day Ulchi Freedom Shield drills that began on Monday. The exercises, involving around 18,000 South Korean troops, US forces, and personnel from 11 UN Command member states, were to test South Korea's readiness to take over wartime Opcon. Trump described North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's response to his order as \"very positive\" and claimed their relationship reduced tensions, without providing further details.",
  "summary": "South Korea’s president has renewed his push to regain independent control of the military from the US in the event of war and urged faster progress in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines after Donald Trump’s order to cut joint drills. On Sunday night, Trump instructed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” this week’s joint military exercises with South Korea, saying […]",
  "key_points": [
    "South Korean President Lee Jae Myung calls for faster military independence from US.",
    "Trump orders substantial reduction of joint military drills with South Korea.",
    "Lee emphasizes need for South Korea to bolster self-defense capabilities."
  ],
  "editors_take": "South Korea's push for military independence from the US gains urgency as Seoul seeks to bolster self-defense capabilities and assume wartime operational control of its forces.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Trump says N Korea’s Kim has responded to his request for a conversation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/trump-says-n-koreas-kim-has-responded-to-his-request-for-a",
        "published": "2026-08-18T05:44:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian",
        "title": "South Korea president calls for military independence in wake of Trump call to cut joint drills",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/south-korea-president-calls-for-military-independence-in-wake-of-1651940",
        "published": "2026-08-18T05:50:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Block",
        "title": "Ripple partners with South Korea’s Jeonbuk Bank for cross-border payments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/ripple-partners-with-south-koreas-jeonbuk-bank-for-cross-border",
        "published": "2026-08-18T06:17:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Asian allies stress 'critical co-operation' as Trump slashes Korea drills",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/asian-allies-stress-critical-co-operation-as-trump-slashes-korea",
        "published": "2026-08-18T07:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}