Trump Orders Pentagon to 'Substantially Reduce' US-South Korea Joint Military Exercises, Citing Kim Relationship

President Trump said Sunday, August 16, 2026 that he had directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to 'substantially reduce' joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the cost of the drills and his 'very good relationship' with Kim Jong-un — saying he did not want to send a signal that is 'totally inappropriate and hostile' to North Korea. The order shortened the ongoing Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise (which began August 17) and downsized some joint field training. The move represents a significant shift in alliance posture on the Korean Peninsula, echoing Trump's 2018–2019 suspension of exercises during the first round of US-DPRK diplomacy. South Korean officials and defense analysts warned the decision undermines combined readiness and could be read by Pyongyang as a unilateral concession without reciprocal denuclearization steps.