President Donald Trump announced on August 16 that he has instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the cost and a perceived hostile signal toward North Korea.
In a post on X, Trump said he was "not happy" that the United States had agreed to participate in the exercises, which he described as "costly" and "totally inappropriate and hostile" to a country that has been "unthreatening and respectful" during his presidency. He noted that it was "too late to cancel" the current exercises but ordered a significant reduction.
Trump also referenced his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, expressing dissatisfaction with the long-standing agreement to hold the drills. In a seemingly unrelated remark, he said he recently asked South Korea's president whether they would join the United States in denuclearizing Iran, and the response was "No thanks!"
The statement underscores Trump's continued emphasis on personal diplomacy with North Korea and his aversion to costly military commitments abroad.
