President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon on Sunday evening to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. The announcement came hours before the start of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which began as scheduled on August 17 and is set to continue through August 27.
The exercises involve approximately 18,000 South Korean military personnel along with U.S. forces and participants from several United Nations Command member states. They include a mix of command post simulations, live field training, and other activities designed to maintain combined defense readiness. Officials had indicated the drills would address evolving capabilities, such as responses to drones, GPS disruption, and cyberattacks.
In a Truth Social post, Trump announced that the exercises will largely continue as planned this go around, but will be scaled down significantly going forward.
“Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea. These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful,” the president wrote.
“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! While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, “No thanks!” Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
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BREAKING: Trump orders Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reduce US-South Korea joint military exercises, saying they are ‘inappropriate and hostile’ to North Korea, adding he has a ‘very good relationship with Kim Jong Un’. pic.twitter.com/QBpKuvyGU0
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) August 16, 2026
No further details were immediately provided on the specific scope of the reduction, such as changes to troop numbers, types of training, or duration of particular elements. A Pentagon spokesperson referred inquiries to the White House, which did not issue additional clarification at the time.
South Korean military authorities confirmed that the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise started according to its original schedule and scale. As of August 17, officials stated that no formal request had been received from the United States to alter the planned activities, though adjustments remained possible if directed.
South Korea’s presidential office indicated it was reviewing the comments. It expressed the view that a favorable relationship between the U.S. and North Korean leaders could contribute to meaningful dialogue aimed at advancing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The office also noted ongoing consultations with the United States regarding military cooperation on other matters, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea’s defense ministry separately affirmed that the drills would proceed as previously notified and scheduled.
Joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea have a long history dating back decades as part of the bilateral alliance established after the Korean War. The current structure typically features two major annual combined exercises: Freedom Shield in the spring and Ulchi Freedom Shield in the summer.
During Trump’s first term, certain large-scale exercises were suspended or reduced in size following diplomatic engagements with North Korea. In more recent years, the allies have adjusted the number of field training events downward.
