Kathmandu— Donald Trump announced on social media that he has ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, arguing they are costly and send an inappropriate signal to North Korea. He cited his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as justification for the move, stating Pyongyang had been “unthreatening and respectful” during his presidency. The decision comes ahead of scheduled drills set to begin on Monday and follows recent criticism from North Korea regarding US-South Korean military cooperation. Trump also referenced South Korea’s unwillingness to participate in a potential effort to denuclearize Iran.

Drill Details and South Korean Response

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, scheduled for August 17-27, were set to involve approximately 18,000 South Korean soldiers. These exercises are a regular summer event designed to prepare South Korea’s armed forces and their US allies for defense against North Korea, which has gained battle experience through its involvement in Russia's war on Ukraine. However, South Korea’s Ministry of Defence stated that the military exercises would proceed as previously scheduled despite Trump’s announcement.

North Korean Criticism

Pyongyang has consistently expressed anger over the drills, viewing them as rehearsals for a potential invasion. Last week, North Korea denounced the upcoming exercises as a provocation and a source of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. A spokesperson for North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that US-Japan-South Korea military cooperation is evolving into a nuclear alliance, prompting Pyongyang to respond with increased deterrence.

Trump's Past Efforts

This is not the first instance of Trump attempting to halt or reduce these exercises. Following a historic 2018 summit in Singapore with Kim Jong Un, he previously described the military drills as both expensive and provocative. He shared a photo of himself with Kim on social media, noting their positive relationship despite what he characterized as an unfriendly appearance in the image. Trump had met with Kim three times during his first term.

The situation remains fluid as South Korea intends to proceed with the exercises as planned, while Trump’s directive raises questions about potential shifts in US-South Korean military cooperation and its impact on regional security.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.