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Trump Orders Major Reduction in US-South Korea Military Exercises, Citing Seoul's Iran Refusal
President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing Seoul's refusal to help with Iran's denuclearization and his "very good relationship" with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises with South Korea, just hours before the 11-day drills were set to begin on Monday. In a social media post, Trump stated the exercises are "costly" and "send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile" to North Korea, which he said has been "unthreatening and respectful" during his presidency. "Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. The President linked the decision to a separate request he said he had made to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, asking whether Seoul would join Washington's efforts to "denuclearize" Iran. According to Trump, South Korea declined, responding with a blunt "No thanks!." "While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of ...
