Trump Orders South Korea Drill Cuts to Meet Kim Jong Un

President Donald Trump announced plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, possibly during a November trip to Asia, to restart diplomatic dialogue. To signal this intent, Trump ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially scale back the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises with South Korea.

Trump characterized the large-scale drills as costly and a signal that is "totally inappropriate and hostile" toward a country he described as "unthreatening and respectful." He further suggested that South Korea's refusal to assist the United States in its conflict with Iran influenced the decision to curtail the exercises. While the U.S. and South Korean militaries agreed to shorten the drills, Kim Yo Jong dismissed the reduction as insufficient, maintaining that Washington's policy remains hostile.

During these announcements, Trump disclosed that North Korea possesses exactly 57 nuclear weapons, the first time a U.S. official has provided a specific number for the arsenal. He defended his relationship with Kim Jong Un, describing him as a "very powerful player" and asserting that his personal rapport with the leader is a positive factor for stability.