The joint military drills between the United States and South Korea have been cut in half at Washington’s request, days after President Donald Trump called for their reduction, citing his close relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
According to CNN, the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, which began on Monday, was due to run for 10 days, but will now end on Friday August 21, the militaries of both nations said.
“Based on direction from the President and Secretary of War, the Department has substantially reduced Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield while continuing training that enhances tactical capability,” a Pentagon official said.
“Associated live-training events have been reduced, with certain events canceled or converted to simulations. These adjustments preserve essential readiness and training objectives. There will be no degradation to US training objectives,” the official said.
South Korea’s military said the decision to “partially adjust the exercise period and size” of the UFS came “at the request of the US.”
The revised end date comes after Trump said Sunday that he had asked Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to reduce the exercises, based on his “very good relationship” with Kim, and saying they sent a “totally inappropriate and hostile” signal to North Korea. He also cited Seoul’s lack of assistance with the Iran war.
South Korea has been a close American ally for over 70 years and the two nations have a mutual defense treaty, primarily designed to protect it from North Korea, a burgeoning nuclear power.
But Trump’s touted personal relationship with North Korea’s Kim, who has significantly expanded his country’s military capabilities since Trump’s first term in office and is now believed to have dozens of nuclear warheads, has tested the long-standing partnership.
