President Donald Trump announced plans to significantly decrease the scope of joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. In a post on Truth Social, Trump characterized the drills as overly expensive and described them as sending an "inappropriate and hostile" signal.
The announcement follows recent ballistic missile tests conducted by North Korea, which are prohibited under United Nations regulations. Trump noted that while the annual exercises were scheduled to commence on Monday, he intended to scale them back, citing his personal rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a factor in the decision.
Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with the South Korean government's decision to decline an invitation to participate in US-led efforts concerning the denuclearization of Iran. He suggested that this refusal influenced his stance on the military partnership, noting that he has previously voiced frustration with other allies for their reluctance to engage in the conflict with Iran.
The joint military event, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, was originally planned as an 11-day operation involving approximately 18,000 South Korean troops and 28,500 US personnel stationed in the region. Military officials had previously stated that the training would account for evolving threats, including North Korea's recent deployment of troops to support Russia in the war against Ukraine. North Korea’s foreign ministry had condemned the drills as a "rehearsal for an aggressive war" just days prior to Trump's announcement.
This is not the first time the US has altered its military posture in the region. Trump previously suspended joint exercises entirely in 2018 during diplomatic negotiations with Pyongyang, and drills were further reduced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, neither Seoul nor Pyongyang has issued an official response to the latest statement.
Source: BBC News
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