Trump Orders Reduction in U.S.-South Korea Military Drills, Citing Kim Jong Un Ties

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered the Pentagon to significantly reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, pointing to the financial cost of the drills and his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that the U.S.-South Korea military exercises are expensive and send what he described as an unnecessarily hostile signal toward North Korea.

“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.

Trump added that he has a “very good relationship” with Kim and said he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” the joint exercises.

The president also linked his decision to South Korea’s position on the Iran war, although he acknowledged the matter was somewhat unrelated. Trump said he recently asked South Korea’s president whether the country would participate with the United States in efforts to denuclearize Iran but received a negative response.

The announcement comes as the United States and South Korea prepare for their latest annual joint military drills, scheduled to take place from August 17 through August 28.

The exercises are expected to focus on several modern security threats, including drone operations, GPS signal disruption and cybersecurity attacks. Washington and Seoul have traditionally described their joint drills as necessary to maintain military readiness and strengthen their defense alliance.

North Korea, however, has repeatedly condemned U.S.-South Korea military exercises, portraying them as rehearsals for a potential invasion of the country.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have remained elevated despite Trump highlighting his personal relationship with Kim. North Korea last week launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, adding to regional security concerns.

Trump’s decision to scale back the exercises could mark another shift in U.S. policy toward North Korea while raising questions about the future scope of military cooperation between Washington and Seoul.