US Cuts South Korea Military Drill Mid-Exercise at Trump's Request

On 19 August 2026, South Korea's joint chiefs announced the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise would end 21 August — six days early — at US request. Trump called the drills "hostile" toward Pyongyang. Unlike past cuts in 1992, 1994, and 2018, all decided before drills began, this is the first mid-execution curtailment. Seoul's foreign minister said neither government was warned in advance.