"Inappropriate and Hostile": Trump Scales Back US-South Korea Drills Amid Ties with North Korea
Trump said the drills were costly and hostile, while Seoul kept them shorter and North Korea launched more than 10 missiles, officials said.
- On Tuesday, President Donald Trump reiterated his directive to scale back U.S.-South Korea military exercises, citing his "very good" relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as he seeks to reengage Pyongyang.
- Earlier this month, Trump instructed the Pentagon to "substantially" scale back allied military exercises. Seoul and Washington shortened the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills from 11 days to five days, reducing other field training events.
- Following the drill changes, North Korea launched more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday. Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, warned the decision weakens U.S. credibility and leverage.
- Trump is reportedly seeking another meeting with Kim during his next trip to Asia, potentially around the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, this November. He repeatedly linked his criticism of Seoul to their refusal to join U.S. efforts regarding Iran.
- Experts observe a shift from a security-centered alliance to one focused on integrated industrial ecosystems. Darcie Draudt-Vjares, fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted this transformation as Korean companies invest significantly in U.S. sectors.
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US President Donald Trump wants to meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. To that end, he posted a joint photo with the North Korean leader on his social media and ordered a reduction in the involvement of US forces in joint military exercises with South Korea. I have no doubt that this pleased Kim.
'Inappropriate and hostile': Trump scales back US-South Korea drills amid ties with North Korea
President Donald Trump ordered a significant reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea. He cited costs and his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise was consequently halved in duration. Live drills were also reduced, focusing more on defensive operations. North Korea has dismissed the reduction as inconsequential to exercise aggression.
"Inappropriate and hostile": Trump scales back US-South Korea drills amid ties with North Korea
Washington DC [US], August 26 (ANI) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) ordered a substantial reduction in the annual joint military exercises with South Korea, citing their cost, his 'very good relationship' with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and concerns that the drills send an 'inappropriate and hostile' signal to Pyongyang.In a Truth Social post, Trump said he was unhappy that the United Stat
Trump says ‘very good relationship’ with Kim Jong Un made him 'unhappy' with US-South Korea military exercises
The United States and South Korea ended their annual military exercise on August 21, six days earlier than originally scheduled, in what appeared to be a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea as President Donald Trump seeks to revive diplomacy with leader Kim Jong Un.
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