Trump says US will scale back military drills with South Korea

North Korea fires 10 missiles day after Trump curtails South Korea joint drills

Launches, detected by South Korea and Japan, came after US scaled back exercises with South Korea in apparent overture to Kim Jong-un North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, a day after North Korea shrugged off Trump’s order to scale back military drills with South Korea in an apparent bid to resume diplomacy. The joint chiefs of staff said the launches happened from North Korea’s capital region around 5pm (0800 GMT)

Aug 20, 2026

Scaling back US-South Korea drills may fail to woo Kim away from China

Trump is scaling back US-South Korea military exercises as he signals interest in renewed talks with Kim Jong Un.

Aug 19, 2026

South Korea, US scale back annual military drills after Trump’s order

Seoul says the duration of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise has been reduced from 11 days to five.

Aug 19, 2026

US-led drills to end six days early, South Korea says, amid Trump push for Kim Jong-un talks

South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise would end on 21 August at the request of the US South Korea’s military has confirmed that joint military drills with the US will be cut short, days after Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back the exercises. In a statement on Wednesday, South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said at the request of the US side, the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise – which began on Monday would end on Friday, six days earlier than

Aug 19, 2026

South Korea Wants Its Military Back

On Tuesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reiterated his calls for the country to retake full control of its military operations from the US following Donald Trump’s order to cut back on annual joint training drills in preparation for North Korean threats two days prior. “A strong alliance makes the foundation of security stronger, […]

Aug 18, 2026

South Korea president calls for military independence in wake of Trump call to cut joint drills

Lee Jae Myung reiterates desire for full command back in Seoul’s hands after Donald Trump cuts joint exercises, citing warm ties with Kim Jong-un ‘Inane, haphazard decision’ by Trump to gut South Korea alliance South Korea’s president ⁠has renewed his push to regain independent control of the military from the US in the event of war and urged faster progress in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines after Donald Trump’s order to cut joint drills. On Sunday night, Trump instructed the Pentagon to “

Aug 18, 2026

Why did Trump scale back war games with South Korea?

US president cites good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

Aug 17, 2026

Democrats rebuke Trump over scaling back military drills with South Korea

Republican Senator Thom Tillis says the decision allows North Korea to provide more support to Russia in Ukraine.

Aug 17, 2026

Trump orders US to scale back South Korea military drills

Donald Trump has ordered the US military to scale back joint exercises with South Korea.

Aug 17, 2026

Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea

President Trump explained the decision by saying South Korea had declined to help with the "denuclearization" of Iran and he cited his good relationship with North Korea's leader.

Aug 17, 2026

Trump says US to ‘substantially reduce’ military drills with South Korea

US president says he's 'not happy' about the drills, citing his 'very good relationship' with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

Aug 17, 2026

Ministers tread carefully as Trump scales back US drills in South Korea

Australia and Japan's defence ministers sit down in Canberra to discuss the rapidly expanding defence ties between the two countries.

Aug 18, 2026

Trump scales back joint military drills with South Korea, calling them 'hostile'

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back planned joint military exercises with South Korea, saying it declined to help denuclearise Iran and citing his good relationship with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

Aug 16, 2026

Trump tells Hegseth to cut U.S.-South Korea drills

President Trump said Sunday he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" U.S. military exercises with South Korea. The big picture: Trump wrote on Truth Social that South Korea declined his request to help the U.S. denuclearize Iran and cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Aug 16, 2026

Trump says US will scale back military drills with South Korea

His decision to reduce the partnership came after South Korea recently declined to aid his war effort in Iran.

Aug 16, 2026

South Korea Holds Defense Drills as Trump Pulls Back on Military Exercises

South Korea conducted a civil defense drill at a hotel in Seoul on Wednesday (August 19) as part of the country’s annual Ulchi civil defense exercise. About 240 personnel from the military, police, fire department, and local government were mobilized in drills simulating multiple threats at a hotel — including bomb, chemical, fire and drone...

Aug 22, 2026

Trump pushes to scale back US-South Korea military drills, citing relationship with Kim Jong Un

President Trump confirmed he plans to meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un later this year, the third sitdown between the two across the commander in chief’s two terms. The president says he has a very good relationship with Kim and while speaking to the media also noted that he didn’t like the massive...

Aug 20, 2026

North Korea shrugs off Trump’s scaled-back drills with South Korea, saying it changes nothing

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday that a U.S. decision to scale back military exercises with South Korea does not change what it sees as the provocative nature of the drills, dampening hopes for an early resumption of diplomacy between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump. The powerful sister of North […]

Aug 20, 2026

Chinese Foreign Minister Heads to South Korea After Trump Scales Back Military Exercise

The South Korean Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday — only a few days after President Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction of joint military exercises with South Korea, slammed the South Korean government for refusing to help with the Iran crisis, and praised North Korea as “unthreatening and respectful.” The post Chinese Foreign Minister Heads to South Korea After Trump Scales Back Military Exercise appe

Aug 18, 2026

Trump gutted South Korea military drills due to lack of help against Iran

President Donald Trump says his decision to scale back military drills with South Korea is due to the Asian nation’s refusal to get involved in Iran, while the dictator of North Korea shows the White House “great respect.” Trump, speaking with reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, said that the annual joint exercises with […]

Aug 17, 2026

Trump instructs Pentagon to reduce military exercises with South Korea

Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site that, although it was too late to cancel the exercises entirely, he was "not happy" that the United States had previously agreed to participate.

Aug 16, 2026