US President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to reduce military drills with South Korea, saying the exercises are inappropriate and hostile. He made the announcement just hours before the drills were set to begin, expressing unhappiness with the long-standing agreement to hold these joint exercises. Trump cited his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a reason for wanting to scale back the drills. He described the exercises as preparations for an invasion and said they send the wrong message to North Korea, which he claimed has been respectful during his presidency.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was instructed to substantially reduce the drills, as it was too late to cancel them entirely, according to RTE. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are scheduled to run through August 27, with about 18,000 South Korean troops participating. Trump has long sought to end or curtail military exercises with South Korea, often clashing with Seoul over the cost of maintaining US forces in South Korea.
North Korea continues to view the exercises as rehearsals for an invasion and has repeatedly denounced them. Pyongyang recently launched ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, signaling opposition to the upcoming drills.
The US and South Korea have conducted these exercises for decades as a way to prepare for threats from North Korea. Trump has criticized traditional military alliances, including NATO, and questioned Western partners’ support in conflicts involving Iran.
The drills are shifting toward simulations of cyberattacks and drone warfare rather than live-fire exercises. Colonel Ryan Donald, a spokesperson for the US-South Korean Combined Forces Command, said the drills would simulate combat against North Korean troops battle-hardened by deployment in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The US maintains about 28,500 troops in South Korea as part of a long-standing defense commitment from the Korean War era. Despite his warm words toward North Korea, Trump has also pointed to South Korea’s stance on the Israel-Iran conflict as a reason for concern.
Trump’s relationship with Kim Jong-un has been inconsistent over the years, including meetings and exchanges of letters, but no progress was made on nuclear negotiations. Experts say North Korea has expanded its nuclear and missile capabilities since Trump’s last meeting with Kim in 2019.
North Korea has also sent troops and supplies to Russia’s war in Ukraine, reportedly in exchange for financial and military support. Ukrainian officials have claimed up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers may be sent to Russia, though no evidence has been provided.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who took office in June 2025, has taken a more conciliatory approach toward North Korea than his predecessor. He has offered unconditional talks with Pyongyang and suggested ending the Korean War formally, but North Korea has responded by increasing its military buildup.
Kim Jong-un has called South Korea the most hostile state in the region.
IMAGE: Howard X and Dennis Alan, impersonators of Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump during the 2018 North Korea–United States summit in Singapore. Photo: Basile Morin / Wikimedia, taken 2018-06-10, CC BY-SA 4.0