Trump Scales Back South Korea Drills, Citing Strong Relationship With Kim Jong Un

US President Donald Trump said he had ordered a substantial reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea, describing the drills as “inappropriate and hostile” and citing his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. His comments came hours before the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise was scheduled to begin, raising questions about the scale of the drills and the US approach to military exercises with its South Korean ally. Trump said the exercises were unnecessary in light of his previous engagement with Kim and argued that they could send the wrong message to North Korea. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said he was unhappy that the United States had agreed to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea.

He referred to his “very good relationship” with Kim and said he did not consider the drills appropriate toward a country he described as having remained unthreatening and respectful during his presidency. Trump also criticised the cost of the exercises, arguing that the United States bears a significant share of the expense. He said the drills were costly and that much of the financial burden was paid by the US. His comments reflected his longstanding criticism of the costs associated with American military commitments and exercises involving allies. The President said it was too late to cancel the exercises altogether but that he had directed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” their scale.

The statement came shortly before the start of Ulchi Freedom Shield, an annual joint exercise intended to strengthen the readiness of US and South Korean forces and improve their ability to respond to potential security threats from North Korea. South Korea’s Defence Ministry, however, said the joint exercises would proceed according to the previously announced schedule. The ministry said the drills would “proceed as previously notified and scheduled” when responding to questions about Trump’s social media post. The response suggested that the exercises remained set to begin despite the US President’s call for a reduction.

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Ulchi Freedom Shield is one of the key annual military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States. The drills are designed to test and improve combined military readiness, command structures and the ability of allied forces to respond to a range of contingencies on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has historically condemned such exercises, describing them as preparations for an invasion, while Washington and Seoul maintain that they are defensive in nature. Trump’s remarks also revived attention on his previous diplomacy with Kim Jong Un.

During his first presidential term, Trump held unprecedented meetings with the North Korean leader in an effort to address the country’s nuclear weapons programme and improve relations. Although the talks did not result in a comprehensive agreement on denuclearisation, Trump has repeatedly pointed to his personal relationship with Kim as an important diplomatic asset. The latest comments indicate that Trump continues to place importance on his direct relationship with the North Korean leadership when considering US policy on the Korean Peninsula. His criticism of the exercises also reflects his broader approach to overseas military commitments, in which he has questioned the cost and strategic value of certain deployments and exercises involving US allies.

The South Korean government’s decision to proceed as scheduled highlights the importance of the alliance between Seoul and Washington despite differences over the scale of military activities. The United States maintains a substantial military presence in South Korea, while both countries regard their combined readiness as a central element of deterrence against North Korea. With the exercises due to proceed despite Trump’s call for a reduction, attention will now focus on the extent to which the US military modifies its participation. The episode has underscored the tension between Washington’s longstanding military commitments in South Korea and Trump’s stated desire to reduce activities he considers costly or unnecessarily provocative toward Pyongyang.

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