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🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Conflict & Security

Trump orders cuts to South Korea joint drills despite warnings of North’s growing battlefield experience

From The Guardian · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction in joint US-South Korea military drills, citing their cost and his relationship with Kim Jong-un.
  • Military officials warned that North Korea is learning new battlefield tactics from the Ukraine war, including drone warfare.
  • The drills, part of Ulchi Freedom Shield, were modified to reflect evolving threats, incorporating lessons from North Korea's support for Russia in Ukraine.

Former US President Donald Trump has ordered a significant scaling back of joint military drills with South Korea, expressing dissatisfaction with their cost and signaling a desire to maintain a positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Trump stated he was "not happy" with US participation, deeming the drills "inappropriate and hostile" towards a country he believes has been "unthreatening and respectful" during his presidency.

I'm not happy with it based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong-un. They are costly and send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a country that, as long as Donald J Trump has been president, has been unthreatening and respectful.

— Donald TrumpExplaining his decision to reduce joint US-South Korea military drills.

Despite military officials from both nations warning that North Korea is adapting battlefield tactics observed in the Ukraine war, including advanced drone operations, Trump insisted on the reduction. He noted that while it was too late to cancel the drills entirely, he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" them. Trump also alluded to South Korea's refusal to assist in the "denuclearisation of the Islamic republic of Iran."

It was too late to cancel the drills, so I have ordered the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce them.

— Donald TrumpDetailing the implementation of his order to scale back military exercises.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, scheduled to begin soon, were designed to incorporate lessons learned from North Korea's battlefield experience. Officials highlighted that the drills would simulate threats such as drones, GPS disruption, and cyberattacks, directly linked to North Korean soldiers who have gained experience supporting Russia in Ukraine. Lieutenant General Scott Winter of the UN Command acknowledged the evolving threat landscape, stating that the training accounts for North Korea's contemporary battlefield experience and its testing of ballistic missile systems.

They’ve taken those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea, that changes the DPRK capability.

— Col Ryan DonaldPublic affairs director for US-led commands in South Korea, explaining how North Korea's experience in Ukraine impacts the drills.
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Originally published by The Guardian. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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