Trump says US military to reduce military exercises with South Korea, cites North Korea relations - Reuters

 

by Reuters

"These exercises are not only costly... but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," he wrote in a Truth Social post.

 

South Korea soldiers participate in an anti-terror exercise as part of Ulchi Freedom Shield 2025, on August 19, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. The exercise serves as a platform for the South Korean government to prepare for potential emergencies on the Korean Peninsula, August 19 2025

(photo credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

 

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea in a social media post that also mentions Seoul's refusal to take part in actions against Iran.

Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site that, although it was too late to cancel the exercises entirely, he was "not happy" that the United States had previously agreed to participate. The US president also cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"These exercises are not only costly... but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful," he wrote.

South Korean soldiers work on their self-propelled artillery vehicles during a military exercise near the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas in Yangju, South Korea, May 25, 2022 (credit: KIM HONG-JI/ REUTERS)

Trump asked South Korea to join in denuclearizing Iran

Trump also pointed to South Korea's stance on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

"While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, 'No thanks!'" Trump wrote.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military drills are scheduled to run from August 17 to 27.

Reuters

Source: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-905716

Follow Middle East and Terrorism on Twitter