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Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea

  • President Donald Trump instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" the long-planned joint military exercises with South Korea.
  • Trump cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stating that Pyongyang has been "unthreatening and respectful" and that the drills send a "hostile" signal.
  • The President criticized the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises as overly costly to the U.S. and noted that while it was too late to cancel them entirely, the overall scale must be cut back.
  • Trump linked the decision to South Korea's refusal to assist the U.S. in efforts to denuclearize Iran after Seoul declined a recent request to join the campaign.
  • South Korean officials stated they were closely monitoring the administration's position while working to maintain bilateral diplomatic and military cooperation.
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Several Democratic legislators in the U.S. Congress, but also a Republican senator, criticized President Donald Trump's decision to reduce the scope of joint military exercises with South Korea.

·Warsaw, Poland
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dirhongkong.com broke the news on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
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