Overview
- President Trump announced on Sunday that he told Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to “reduce substantially” U.S. participation in the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, saying the decision reflected his close relationship with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and frustration with South Korea’s refusal to assist on Iran.
- Trump made the order on his Truth Social account after posting a photo with Kim over the weekend and said it was too late to cancel the drills entirely, so the change would be a substantial reduction rather than a full cancellation.
- South Korea’s defense ministry and joint chiefs reported that the Ulchi exercises began as scheduled on Monday, leaving it unclear how and when U.S. troop reductions ordered by Washington will be implemented or affect the live training.
- Pyongyang had publicly condemned the drills and launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan in the days before the exercises, underscoring regional tension and the deterrence stakes tied to the joint training.
- The move echoes reductions of U.S.–ROK drills during Trump’s first term and could weaken combined readiness, strain alliance coordination over burden sharing, and signal Washington’s willingness to use exercises as leverage in broader diplomatic contests.