Trump Orders Reduction of U.S.-South Korea Military Exercises

President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to reduce upcoming military exercises with South Korea. He argued that the operations cost too much and send a hostile message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with Seoul’s refusal to join U.S. efforts to denuclearize Iran. On Truth Social, Trump stated his frustration with the longstanding military arrangement with South Korea.

Based on my good relationship with Kim Jong Un, I am not happy with the U.S. participating in joint military exercises with South Korea…

The upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield, set to begin Monday, will involve around 28,500 U.S. service members stationed in Korea. Approximately 18,000 South Korean troops are also expected to participate. These joint exercises are designed to enhance defense readiness across the Korean Peninsula.

Pyongyang has consistently opposed these drills, labeling them as preparations for an aggressive war. This sentiment was echoed by North Korea’s Foreign Ministry through state media last week.

Trump’s direction to scale back operations comes amid a surge in weapons testing by Pyongyang, which conducted two ballistic missile launches recently. Following these tests, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command affirmed close consultation with regional allies. They noted these launches did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or allies.

Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that North Korea is using Russia’s conflict in Ukraine to refine its military capabilities. He warned that collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang could exacerbate regional instability.

North Korea’s weapons improve through its collaboration with Russia. This raises future threats for Japan, Korea, and other countries in Asia…

This is not the first time Trump has directed a reduction of joint exercises with South Korea. He previously called these maneuvers provocative and expensive.

Emma Bussey, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital, contributed to this report.