US President Donald Trump has instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the cost of the drills and Seoul’s refusal to participate in US efforts against Iran.
Trump made the announcement on Sunday, hours before the annual exercises were scheduled to begin, saying he was unhappy that the United States had agreed to participate.
He also highlighted his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying the military exercises were costly and sent an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea.
The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are scheduled to run until August 27, with about 18,000 South Korean military personnel taking part.
However, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the exercises began on Monday as scheduled.
South Korea’s presidential Blue House said it was reviewing Trump’s statement and expressed hope that his relationship with Kim could create an opportunity for meaningful dialogue aimed at promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The South Korean government also said the two allies would continue coordinating their combined defence posture and military exercises.
Trump claimed that South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had declined to support US efforts to denuclearise Iran. Seoul said it was considering potential military contributions while taking into account its defence readiness and domestic legal procedures.
The United States and South Korea have long conducted joint military exercises, which North Korea routinely condemns as preparations for an invasion.
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The relationship between Trump and Kim has fluctuated over the years, with the two leaders holding three summits during Trump’s first term. However, their diplomatic efforts failed to produce an agreement to halt North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.
In recent years, US-South Korean military exercises have increasingly shifted from live-fire drills towards computer simulations involving missile and cyberattack scenarios.
Trump has repeatedly sought to reduce the exercises and has also pressed South Korea to contribute more towards the cost of stationing about 28,500 US troops in the country.
