Trump Orders Major Reduction in U.S.–South Korea Military Exercises
U.S. President Donald Trump said he has instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce planned joint military exercises with South Korea.
In a post on X, Trump cited his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and said he considers the exercises costly and inappropriate toward North Korea, which he described as having remained unthreatening and respectful during his presidency.
Trump said the exercises had already been agreed upon and were too late to cancel entirely, but ordered a significant reduction in their scale.
Trump also said he recently asked South Korean President Lee Jae Myung whether South Korea would participate in efforts toward the denuclearization of Iran, but said Seoul declined the proposal.