Trump Orders Pentagon to Scale Back US-South Korea Drills

US President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered the Pentagon to scale back planned joint military exercises with South Korea, saying Seoul had declined to support US efforts to denuclearise Iran and citing his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump said the exercises, scheduled to begin this week, were costly and sent what he described as an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea.

He said North Korea had been “unthreatening and respectful” toward his administration during his time in the White House.

“Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!” Trump wrote in a social media post.

He also said he had recently asked South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to join US efforts to denuclearise Iran, but that Seoul had declined.

The move marks another instance of Trump appearing to favour engagement with a leader regarded by previous US administrations as an adversary while expressing frustration with a longstanding US ally.

Trump and members of his administration have also criticised NATO allies over what they consider insufficient support for the US military campaign against Iran, even as Washington seeks to counter growing Russian activity in the Baltic region.

The decision also represents a notable shift from the administration’s approach to South Korea in recent months, when Washington had emphasised the importance of the alliance and joint military readiness.

The US and South Korea regularly conduct joint military exercises as part of their efforts to maintain readiness against potential threats from North Korea.