Trump Orders Scaling Back US-South Korea Military Drills, Cites Kim Relationship and Seoul's Refusal to Join Iran Campaign

On 16 August 2026, President Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back Ulchi Freedom Shield, the 11-day US-South Korea exercise involving 18,000 South Korean troops. Trump cited his "very good relationship" with Kim Jong-Un and Seoul's refusal to join the US campaign against Iran. The order came days after North Korean ballistic missile tests and drew swift condemnation from Senate Democrats.