Trump says US to ‘substantially reduce’ military drills with South Korea | Donald Trump News
Seoul Military Drills Proceed Despite Trump’s Concerns Over Relations with North Korea
Posted August 17, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed the Pentagon to reduce the scale of joint military exercises with South Korea, expressing dissatisfaction with the planned drills in light of his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump characterized the exercises, set to commence on Monday, as costly and indicative of an inappropriate and hostile stance towards North Korea. He claimed that North Korea has maintained a respectful demeanor during his presidency.
“Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea,” Trump stated on Truth Social. He also referenced a recent conversation with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol regarding Iran, noting that South Korea declined an invitation to collaborate on the denuclearization of the Islamic Republic.
Trump acknowledged that it was too late to cancel the drills but directed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” the scope of the activities.
In response, South Korea’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that the scheduled military exercises would proceed as planned. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, running from August 17 to 27, are expected to involve approximately 18,000 South Korean soldiers. These exercises are a routine element of defense preparations against a nuclear-capable North Korea, amidst heightened military tensions following Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
North Korea has consistently opposed the joint exercises, viewing them as rehearsals for invasion. Recent statements from Pyongyang condemned the upcoming drills, labeling them as provocative actions that exacerbate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. A North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson indicated that the trilateral military cooperation among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea is evolving into a nuclear alliance, prompting Pyongyang to devise a corresponding deterrent response.
On the day following the announcement of the military drills, Trump shared a photo of himself with Kim, remarking on their rapport despite an “unfriendly look” in the image. Throughout his first term, Trump met with Kim three times, underscoring his administration’s attempts to engage diplomatically with North Korea.
This latest effort to limit military exercises is not unprecedented for Trump. Following a historic summit in Singapore with Kim in 2018, the president referred to the military drills as “expensive” and “provocative.”
