Trump orders significant reduction in U.S.-South Korea military exercises

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has ordered the Pentagon to significantly scale back joint military exercises with South Korea. In a social media post, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the exercises, stating they were too costly and sent an inappropriate, hostile signal to North Korea.

Trump highlighted his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, asserting that North Korea has been unthreatening and respectful during his presidency. He wrote that the exercises were "totally inappropriate and hostile" to a country that has maintained a respectful stance.

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These exercises are not only costly... but 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.

The U.S. president also linked his decision to South Korea's position on U.S. actions against Iran. Trump stated he had asked South Korea's president if they would join efforts to denuclearize Iran, and received a negative response.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military drills were scheduled to take place from August 17 to 27. Trump's directive came as it was too late to cancel the exercises entirely, but he indicated his unhappiness with the prior agreement to participate.

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While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, 'No thanks!'