South Korean President Reaffirms US Alliance After Trump Cuts Joint Drill

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that a solid alliance with the United States is essential for the country’s national security, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sudden reduction in the joint Ulchi Freedom Shield drills. Trump posted the decision on social media just before the exercises 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 was made without prior consultation with Seoul, raising concerns about the reliability of the alliance forged during the Korean War.

Lee said that “national security will be further strengthened when the alliance is solid” and added that building up South Korea’s capabilities would increase its value as a partner. The 11-day exercise, which typically involves about 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the country, was expected to be similar in scale to previous years and to incorporate lessons from recent conflicts.

North Korea’s foreign ministry accused the two allies of planning more provocative drills and warned of a “new level of deterrent.” Analysts note that Kim Jong Un has not engaged in talks with the United States or South Korea since a 2019 summit collapsed, and is unlikely to respond positively to Trump’s overture without further concessions.

Conservative opposition leader Park Chung-kwon warned that South Korea’s security “is being shaken to its very foundations.” A professor at Ewha University described Trump’s view of the alliance as treating it like an “investment that should pay regular dividends.”

Both governments said they continue to discuss practical measures, including South Korea’s contribution to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while the future of the joint exercises remains uncertain.