# Why Trump is cutting military drills with US ally South Korea

https://mins.news/en/video/24569

- DW News, 2026-08-17 21:26 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RG4b00iddw

> US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, pointing to their cost, his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Seoul’s absence from Iran-related involvement. The move came as the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills began.

## Stories

- [US–North Korea Relations and North Korea Policy](https://mins.news/en/topic/us-north-korea-relations) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/us-north-korea-relations.md

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