Trump orders Pentagon to cut back South Korea military drills

President Trump directed the Pentagon on Sunday to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, hours before the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills were set to begin. The order came via Truth Social, where Trump cited the high costs borne largely by the United States, the signal the exercises send to North Korea, and his assessment of a positive relationship with Kim Jong Un. He also referenced South Korea's recent decision not to join U.S. efforts on Iran denuclearization, though he described that matter as somewhat unrelated.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise involves roughly 18,000 South Korean troops alongside U.S. forces and runs through August 27. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the drills began on schedule Monday despite the directive. The presidential Blue House stated it was reviewing the post and expressed hope that improved ties between Washington and Pyongyang could support dialogue on peninsula stability, while noting ongoing coordination with the United States on defense posture and separate discussions about possible contributions related to Iran.

Trump has sought to curtail these exercises in both terms, arguing they are provocative and expensive. North Korea has long condemned the drills as invasion rehearsals and conducted ballistic missile tests in the days before the announcement. Analysts noted the move aligns with Trump's past summit diplomacy with Kim but carries risks for alliance readiness, as exercises have shifted in recent years toward simulations of missile and cyber threats. South Korea maintains 28,500 U.S. troops on its soil under longstanding cost-sharing arrangements that have been points of friction in prior negotiations.

The decision leaves open questions about the precise scope of reductions and their effect on combined operations against evolving North Korean capabilities, including troops and weapons support for Russia in Ukraine.