Trump orders reduction in US-South Korea military drills, cites Kim Jong Un ties

The drills, aimed at deterring North Korea, are set to begin on Monday. Trump stated on Truth Social that his good relationship with North Korea's Kim Jong Un made the exercises, which he described as costly and sending an "inappropriate and hostile" signal, undesirable. He noted that North Korea had been "unthreatening and respectful" during his presidency.

Though too late to cancel entirely, Trump instructed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to significantly scale back the "Ulchi Freedom Shield" exercise. This annual 11-day exercise, involving 18,000 South Korean troops and the 28,500-strong US contingent, prepares forces for defense against North Korea. Pyongyang has historically condemned these drills as invasion rehearsals.

Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesman for the US and South Korean Combined Forces Command, indicated that this year's exercise would simulate combat against North Korean troops with experience from the Russia-Ukraine war, focusing on drone warfare, GPS disruption, and cyber attacks. South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung, who took office in June 2025, has offered unconditional talks to Pyongyang, a reversal from his predecessor's stance, but North Korea has not yet responded. The two Koreas technically remain at war, as their 1950-53 conflict concluded with an armistice rather than a pea