Trump directs Pentagon to cut back U.S.-South Korea joint drills

President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon on Sunday to substantially reduce the upcoming joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the drills were costly and sent an inappropriate, hostile signal to North Korea. In a social-media post, Trump wrote that the exercises, scheduled to begin that week, were “too late to cancel” but would be scaled back after South Korean officials declined a U.S. request to cooperate on denuclearising Iran.

The planned maneuvers involved about 18,000 South Korean troops and were intended to enhance readiness against potential North Korean threats, including live-fire precision targeting, a wet-gap crossing and the distribution of prepositioned equipment. The U.S. military has described the drills as reinforcing the alliance that underpins regional peace and security.

North Korea responded on Friday with a warning of “stern steps” against the United States and South Korea, characterising the drills as a rehearsal for aggressive war and accusing them of destabilising the region. Analysts note that Pyongyang often uses such exercises as a pretext to accelerate its own weapons testing and rally domestic support.

"Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!" Trump wrote.

The move echoes a similar decision made during Trump’s first term, when he halted the drills, calling them provocative and claiming they would save money unless diplomatic negotiations progressed.