President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to significantly scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, citing their cost and the signal they send to North Korea.
Trump announced his instruction via a social media post on Sunday, stating that while it was too late to cancel the upcoming exercises entirely, he was displeased with the prior agreement to participate. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises were scheduled to commence on August 17 and conclude on August 27, involving approximately 18,000 South Korean military personnel. These drills are designed to counter evolving North Korean capabilities, including drone operations, GPS signal disruption, and cyberattacks.
In his statement, the former president also highlighted his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump asserted that the exercises are not only expensive but also convey an "inappropriate and hostile" message to a nation he described as having been "unthreatening and respectful" throughout his presidency.
Additionally, Trump referenced South Korea's position on the conflict involving Iran. He mentioned inquiring whether South Korea would join efforts for the denuclearization of Iran, to which he stated the response was "No thanks!". The White House and the Pentagon have not yet provided immediate responses to requests for further information regarding Trump's directive.
North Korea consistently condemns U.S.-South Korean military exercises as preparations for an invasion. This directive comes shortly after North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, the second such launch in less than a week. U.S. military officials have noted that North Korean forces may have gained combat experience, including in the use of unmanned systems and electronic warfare, from their involvement alongside Russia in Ukraine.
