Trump Reduces Military Exercises with South Korea Citing 'Friendship' with Kim Jong-un

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he directed the Pentagon to significantly reduce the scale of joint military exercises with South Korea. He explained his decision by citing good relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

In a post published on Truth Social, Trump noted that these exercises are costly and primarily funded by the United States. “Given my very good relationship with Kim Jong-un of North Korea, I am unhappy that the United States has long agreed to participate in joint exercises with South Korea,” Trump wrote.

According to him, the exercises also send “completely unnecessary and hostile signals” to a country that, he claims, has treated him “without harm and with respect” during his presidency.

Trump mentioned that it is already too late to cancel the exercises completely, so he has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to significantly reduce their scale.

The U.S. president also revealed that he recently asked the South Korean president whether Seoul was ready to join the U.S. in the denuclearization of Iran, but received a negative response. At the same time, Trump emphasized that the reduction of joint exercises is in no way related to Seoul's stance on this matter.