US Cancels South Korea Military Drill Amid Iran War

The United States has cancelled a major joint amphibious landing exercise with South Korea scheduled for next month, as the ongoing Iran war limits the availability of U.S. military forces, South Korea’s Marine Corps said Monday.

The division-level exercise, known as Ssangyong, was expected to involve U.S. and South Korean forces. However, the U.S. Marine Corps formally informed its South Korean counterpart in June that it faced constraints on deploying personnel for the drill, according to a South Korean Marine Corps spokesperson.

Seoul and Washington remain in close consultation over when the joint military exercises could resume. The spokesperson did not provide details on possible measures to compensate for missed training or prevent similar cancellations in the future.

U.S. Forces Korea did not immediately comment on the cancellation.

The decision comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly ordered a reduction in the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises with South Korea, which concluded last Friday. Trump cited the financial cost of the drills as well as Seoul’s decision not to participate in the U.S. war in Iran.

Trump also criticized the exercises in a Truth Social post, describing them as an “inappropriate and hostile” signal toward North Korea. His comments highlighted a shift in Washington’s approach to military activities on the Korean Peninsula as the U.S. manages competing security priorities.

Despite the scaled-back exercises, tensions with North Korea remain elevated. Pyongyang launched 10 short-range ballistic missiles last week and issued a statement condemning the joint U.S.-South Korea military drills.

North Korea has repeatedly criticized military exercises between Washington and Seoul, arguing that they are preparations for an invasion. The United States and South Korea have traditionally maintained that the drills are defensive and designed to strengthen military readiness.

The cancellation of the Ssangyong exercise adds uncertainty over future U.S.-South Korea military training as Washington redirects resources toward the Iran conflict while attempting to manage security challenges on the Korean Peninsula.