Trump asks Pentagon to slash military drills with South Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday told the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, over his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, while mentioning Seoul’s unwillingness to participate in the Iran war.

“These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile,” Trump said, citing a “very good relationship” with Kim Jong.

“I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises,” Trump said in a Truth.Social post.
He also brought up South Korea’s stance on the Iran war.

“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 said.

The U.S. and South Korea conduct annual joint military exercises, with the latest round set to run from August 17 to 28. The drills are expected to include operations to counter drones, disrupt GPS signals and cybersecurity attacks.

North Korea has repeatedly denounced the drills as preparations for an invasion. Last week, the country fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan.