Trump Cuts South Korea Drills to Pursue Kim Jong Un Meeting

President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises with South Korea, shortening the 11-day drills to five days. Trump characterized the large-scale exercises as costly and insulting to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, asserting that his personal rapport with Kim makes the region safer. He further linked the drawdown to South Korea's refusal to assist U.S. military operations in Iran and the securing of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway providing 60 percent of South Korea's oil.

Trump announced plans to meet with Kim Jong Un later in 2026, potentially during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China. He claimed the two leaders have been in secret, positive communication and estimated that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons. Kim Yo Jong, sister of the North Korean leader, described the relationship between the two men as excellent but denied knowledge of recent secret communications and dismissed the reduced drills as still being provocative.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed hope that the diplomacy would lead to regional stability but emphasized that a solid alliance remains essential for national security. In response to the U.S. decision, Lee urged South Korea to accelerate its independent military capabilities, including a nuclear-powered submarine program. U.S. critics, including Senator Jack Reed and Senator Mark Kelly, warned that hollowing out joint exercises is a shortsighted mistake that signals weakness to China and Russia.