South Korean President Reaffirms US Alliance After Trump Cuts Joint Exercises

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that a solid alliance with the United States is vital for the country’s national security, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a substantial reduction in the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. Trump posted the surprise decision on social media just before the drills began, citing a perceived good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to join a U.S. campaign against Iran.

The announcement, made without prior consultation with Seoul, raised doubts about the reliability of the U.S.-South Korea security pact that has been in place since the Korean War. South Korea relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for protection against North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and the United States maintains about 28,500 troops in the country.

Lee emphasized that “national security will be further strengthened when the alliance is solid” and added that strengthening South Korea’s own capabilities would increase its value as an ally. He has advocated for a more self-reliant defence posture while maintaining close ties with Washington.

North Korea’s foreign ministry accused the two countries of planning more provocative drills and warned of a “new level of deterrent.” Analysts noted that Kim Jong Un is unlikely to resume talks with Trump without significant U.S. concessions, given recent expansions of his nuclear program and closer ties with Russia.

Conservative opposition spokesperson Park Chung-kwon warned that South Korea’s security “is being shaken to its very foundations.” Meanwhile, academic Leif-Eric Easley described Trump’s view of alliances as “an investment that should pay regular dividends, or a rainy-day fund he can withdraw from when another project isn’t going well.”