Trump Calls for Major Cut to US-South Korea Drills, Cites 'Good Relationship' with Kim Jong Un

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a significant reduction in joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, asserting that he maintains a "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that the drills are costly and send a "completely inappropriate and hostile signal" to North Korea. He instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "drastically reduce" the exercises.

The directive comes just one day before the scheduled start of the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) joint drills, an 11-day exercise set to run from June 17th to 27th. UFS is designed to test the combined command and operational capabilities of South Korea and the U.S. in defending the Korean Peninsula. This year's drills were planned to incorporate scenarios reflecting recent threats, including drone attacks, GPS jamming, and cyber warfare. Approximately 18,000 South Korean troops were expected to participate in a combination of live and virtual training.

Trump also mentioned that he had recently asked the current South Korean president about participating in efforts to denuclearize Iran, but was reportedly declined. While he did not specify the exact nature of the request, it is interpreted as a potential military support role related to Iran, given the Trump administration's repeated requests for South Korea to expand its military role in ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea has maintained a cautious stance on participating in U.S.-led operations in the Strait.

The former president's call for scaling back the drills may signal an intention to resume dialogue with Kim Jong Un. Trump has frequently highlighted his personal relationship with Kim as an asset for North Korea diplomacy. He previously posted a photo from their 2019 meeting at Panmunjom, noting that while the picture might not look friendly, they also had many smiling photos and that he and Kim "get along very well."