Trump orders Pentagon to scale back US‑South Korea joint drills

The United States president labeled the annual U.S.–South Korea joint military exercises “provocative” in 2018, a stance he voiced after his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore. The comment came amid a broader diplomatic effort to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, following the first-ever meeting between a sitting U.S. president and the North Korean head of state.

The joint drills, routinely conducted to enhance readiness and interoperability between the two allies, have long been a point of contention for North Korea, which views them as rehearsals for invasion. While the 2018 criticism underscored Washington’s willingness to accommodate Pyongyang’s security concerns, the exercises have continued in various forms, reflecting the delicate balance between deterrence and diplomatic engagement in the region.