Trump scales back US-South Korea drills, calling them 'hostile signal' to North Korea
Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- U.S. President Trump has ordered a significant reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea.
- He cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and called the exercises an "inappropriate and hostile signal."
- The decision, which came too late to cancel the current exercise, aims to de-escalate tensions and reflects Trump's desire for a diplomatic approach with North Korea.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a significant scaling back of joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump declared on his platform Truth Social that the long-standing drills send an "inappropriate and hostile signal" to a country that has not posed a threat and has behaved respectfully during his presidency.
"Therefore, and because it is too late to cancel, I have ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce the joint military exercises!" Trump wrote. This move appears to be a snub to South Korea, a close ally that relies on U.S. military protection, similar to NATO partners in Europe. It also seems to benefit North Korea's isolated leadership, which frequently threatens South Korea with military force and labels the South its "main enemy."
These send a completely inappropriate and hostile signal to a country that – as long as I have been president – has posed no threat and has behaved respectfully.
The current "Ulchi Freedom Shield" exercise, which began Monday, will now include only 14 field drills, three fewer than last year. South Korea's official news agency Yonhap reported that this reduction is partly due to efforts by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who, like Trump, seeks a diplomatic rapprochement with Kim Jong Un. Trump recently shared a photo with Kim, emphasizing their positive relationship and highlighting the cost of the military exercises, a significant portion of which is borne by the U.S.
Trump also noted that South Korea recently rejected his request to join efforts for the denuclearization of Iran. During his first term, Trump actively sought engagement with Kim Jong Un, meeting him multiple times. However, a summit in Hanoi in 2019 ended abruptly after a diplomatic incident.
Therefore, and because it is too late to cancel, I have ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce the joint military exercises!
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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