Trump cuts South Korea drills after Seoul refuses Iran denuclearisation push

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing Seoul's refusal to join American efforts to denuclearise Iran. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said he had asked the South Korean president whether the country wanted to join the US in the "Denuclearisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran", and was told, "No thanks!" Times of India reports Trump also cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a reason for scaling back the drills, describing them as costly and sending an "inappropriate and hostile" signal to Pyongyang.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, involving about 18,000 South Korean soldiers according to AP, are scheduled to run from August 17 to 27. India Today reports Trump acknowledged it was too late to cancel entirely but said he had instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" the exercises. North Korea had on Friday condemned the drills as a "rehearsal for an aggressive war" and threatened countermeasures, while the US military says they are designed to strengthen the alliance and include complex joint operations. The drills come days after North Korea resumed ballistic missile testing, Times of India adds.