Kathmandu— South Korea’s Marine Corps announced Monday that the United States has cancelled a major joint amphibious landing exercise scheduled for next month, citing limitations on troop availability stemming from the ongoing conflict involving Iran and Israel. The biennial Ssangyong drills typically involve combined forces rehearsing amphibious landings with warships, aircraft, and ground troops; however, US Marine Corps officials notified South Korean counterparts in June of potential constraints. This cancellation follows a recent decision by President Donald Trump to scale back another annual joint military exercise.

Exercise Cancellation Confirmed

Han Seung-jeon, a spokesman for the South Korean Marine Corps, confirmed to reporters that the US Marine Corps formally notified them in June about limitations on force deployment during this year’s Ssangyong exercise due to the situation in the Middle East. Seoul and Washington are currently consulting regarding the possibility of rescheduling the amphibious exercise, though no details have been released.

Recent Exercise Reductions

The cancellation is the latest adjustment to joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. Last week, President Trump ordered a reduction in the length of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises from eleven days to five, citing cost concerns and Seoul’s reluctance to participate in potential actions against Iran. Trump also expressed his desire to maintain positive relations with North Korea, stating that the drills sent “a signal that was totally inappropriate and hostile” to Pyongyang.

North Korean Response

Despite the scaled-back exercises, North Korea responded by launching ten short-range ballistic missiles last week and issuing a statement condemning the drills as rehearsals for invasion. Seoul estimates North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons, while President Trump recently claimed Pyongyang has 57 “very powerful” such weapons. The two countries have a history of strained relations, with previous summits between Trump and Kim Jong Un failing to yield a denuclearization agreement after the Hanoi summit in 2019.

Ongoing Consultations

Officials from both South Korea and the United States are continuing discussions about potentially resuming the Ssangyong exercise at a later date. No immediate comment was available from the Pentagon regarding the cancellation.

The future of joint military exercises between the US and South Korea remains uncertain as both countries navigate complex geopolitical challenges in Northeast Asia and the Middle East.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.