Trump Instructs Pentagon To Substantially Reduce South Korea-US Military Drills

US President Donald Trump has instructed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to “substantially” reduce joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, arguing that the drills are costly and send an inappropriate signal to North Korea. Trump made the remarks in a social media post on Sunday, as Washington and Seoul prepared to begin their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise.

Trump referred to his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un while questioning the need for the exercises. He argued that the joint drills carry significant costs, much of which he claimed are borne by the United States, and described them as sending a hostile signal to Pyongyang. Trump indicated that the exercises could not be cancelled because preparations were already underway, prompting him to order a substantial reduction instead.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise is scheduled to run from August 17 to 27, with about 18,000 South Korean military personnel expected to participate. The drills are designed to strengthen the allies’ ability to respond to potential security threats and are being adapted to address North Korea’s evolving military capabilities. Planned activities include responses to drone threats, GPS disruptions and cyberattacks.

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North Korea has long criticised the annual US-South Korea exercises, portraying them as preparations for an attack. Washington and Seoul have maintained that the drills are defensive in nature and intended to strengthen their combined readiness. Trump’s latest instruction comes against the backdrop of his previous efforts to engage with North Korea and his repeated references to his relationship with Kim Jong Un.

Trump also mentioned a separate conversation with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung regarding efforts to denuclearise Iran. According to Trump’s account, he asked whether South Korea would participate in the effort and received a negative response. He did not provide further details about the discussion or explain how the issue was connected to his remarks about the military exercises.

The planned reduction in the scale of the drills could have implications for US-South Korea military readiness and the broader security dynamics on the Korean Peninsula. The exercises are a central part of the allies’ joint preparedness, while North Korea has consistently objected to their continuation. Further details on how the exercises will be reduced were not immediately provided.

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