Trump described the ongoing exercises as an affront to North Korea, which he described as “unthreatening and respectful.”

President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with America’s NATO allies after the international alliance refused to support the ongoing “operations” in the Middle East against Iran. Similarly, since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly opined about the United States’ need to obtain Greenland for national and even “global security.”

In a post on Truth Social on Sunday evening, Trump announced that he had instructed the Department of Defense to reduce military exercises with close ally South Korea, and directly praised North Korean despot Kim Jong Un.

“Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea,” Trump wrote. “These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful. Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!”

Trump added that South Korean leaders had been unhelpful in the ongoing US war with Iran, citing President Lee Jae-myung’s refusal to participate as another factor in the decision: “While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!’”

Trump “Substantially Reduced” Exercises Less Than 24 Hours Beforehand

It remains entirely unclear why Trump made the sudden announcement only one day before the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises, which began on Monday morning Korean local time (KST).

The annual, large-scale combat military exercises are conducted to strengthen the combined defense posture of the United States and South Korea. The 10-day drills kicked off as scheduled, with approximately 18,000 troops taking part.

“During last year’s UFS period, a total of 22 cases were conducted, including 17 cases at the battalion level or higher and those at the company level or above,” The Chosun Daily reported.

The South Korean news outlet added that Pyongyang has “reacted sensitively to the UFS exercises,” and earlier this month launched ballistic missiles off the coast in a show of anger. North Korea has suggested the joint US-South Korean training drills are “a rehearsal for an invasion war.”

During his first term, Trump had also scaled back a major exercise planned for August 2018, stating that it would save money and end a provocation. It was too late to cancel this year’s UFS, but Trump called for the US role to be scaled back.

Washington and Seoul have conducted joint exercises since 1955, two years after the end of the Korean War. That war has never formally ended, and Pyongyang has rejected periodic attempts from the South Korean government to formally negotiate peace.

Freedom Isn’t Free—and Trump Doesn’t Want to Foot the Bill

Money may be Trump’s primary motivating factor, who has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the costs to maintain a strong US military presence in South Korea. He has suggested that allies such as South Korea failed to pay enough to reimburse the US for hosting US forces, and that such large-scale military drills are an unneeded cost for American taxpayers.

However, Trump’s comments over the weekend seem in marked contrast with what Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in May during a meeting with South Korea’s Minister of National Defense Ahn Guy.

“As I noted during my visit to Seoul last November, the Republic of Korea’s commitment to increase defense spending and your leadership in assuming primary responsibility for the security of the Korean Peninsula is very important,” Hegseth said at the time. “It demonstrates alliance burden-sharing that all of America’s partners would do well to follow. Real burden-sharing is the foundation of a resilient alliance, and it is essential for effectively deterring our mutual adversaries.”

How Will Kim React to Trump’s Outreach?

The president continues to paint himself as a dealmaker in chief, someone who can balance traditional allies with potential adversaries. At the same time, Trump has labeled dictators such as Kim a “friend.” However, during his first term, Trump sparred with the North Korean leader and may be seeking to mend fences.

Still, most experts see Kim as being more unpredictable than even Trump.

“This decision may be part of a larger effort to create a diplomatic opportunity with Pyongyang, as Trump has consistently wanted since coming back to office, although the haphazard nature of this move is unlikely to make much of an impression in Pyongyang,” Jenny Town, head of the 38 North program at the Stimson Center, told Reuters.

Trump has also dismissed the fact that North Korea is now actively engaged with Ukraine, supporting Russia’s war efforts. That could provide Pyongyang’s forces with real-world battlefield experience.

However, for Trump, such facts may not matter. He views loyalty to himself as paramount over everything, and South Korea disappointed him by not supporting the war with Iran.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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