US-South Korea military drills expected to be halved as Trump pushes for Kim Jong Un meeting

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to "substantially reduce" American participation in joint military drills with South Korea, according to various South Korean media reports. This directive comes as Trump continues to emphasize his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and pushes for a potential meeting.

South Korean broadcasters KBS and MBC, along with the newspaper Kyunghyang, reported that the annual exercises are expected to be cut by approximately half. The US Forces Korea declined to comment on the reports, directing inquiries to the Pentagon, which did not immediately respond. South Korea's defense ministry also had no comment.

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substantially reduce

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing US officials, that Trump is pushing aides to arrange a meeting with Kim as soon as this fall. The US president has privately discussed an in-person discussion with Kim during Trump's potential November trip to Asia for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China. The Journal's report could not be immediately verified by Reuters.

Tourists observed anti-war protesters in Seoul calling for a halt to the joint US-South Korea military exercises. The drills, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, have been a point of contention for some groups seeking peace on the Korean Peninsula.

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very good relationship