U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, citing concerns over the cost of the exercises and their potential impact on relations with North Korea. In a statement, Trump said he was unhappy that the United States had previously agreed to participate in the exercises, describing them as expensive and potentially hostile signals toward Pyongyang.
Trump said his decision was influenced by what he described as his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He argued that North Korea had remained “unthreatening and respectful” toward the United States during his presidency and suggested that reducing the military exercises could help maintain a less confrontational atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula.
According to Trump, it was already too late to cancel the exercises completely, prompting him to instruct U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce their scale. The decision could have implications for the longstanding military cooperation between Washington and Seoul, which regularly conducts joint exercises aimed at maintaining military readiness and responding to potential security threats.
Trump also disclosed that he had recently asked South Korea whether it would join the United States in efforts aimed at the denuclearization of Iran, but said Seoul declined the proposal. He concluded his statement by thanking the public for its attention to the matter, while reiterating his position on reducing the joint military exercises with South Korea.
