Due to friendship with Kim and Iran stance: Donald Trump to reduce military exercises with South Korea
The US President ordered the Pentagon to reduce massive military exercises, claiming they send a "hostile message" to Pyongyang. Donald Trump explained the move by his good relations with Kim Jong Un, who he says has been respectful since his return to the White House. He also took a jab at Seoul for refusing to assist him against Tehran: "They said no thanks."
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, ordered the Pentagon last night (between Sunday and Monday) to reduce the planned joint military exercises with South Korea.
"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States long ago agreed to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea," explained Donald Trump.
In a post published on his social network, Donald Trump explained that the exercises, which were supposed to begin this week, are expensive and "send a hostile and totally inappropriate message" to North Korea. According to him, Pyongyang "has been non-threatening and respectful" since his return to the White House. However, Donald Trump noted that he chose to reduce the exercises rather than cancel them, as it is "too late to cancel them entirely."
He further added: "Although it is somewhat unrelated, I recently asked the President of South Korea if he would like to join us in denuclearizing the Islamic Republic of Iran, and he said 'No thanks!'"
18,000 soldiers and complex scenarios
The exercise, which was supposed to last 11 days and include about 18,000 South Korean soldiers, was planned to increase the readiness of forces against threats from the North. According to the US military, the joint forces were expected to practice operations in complex scenarios, including live-fire exercises, crossing water obstacles, and deploying military equipment in the field.
However, the reduction of the training comes against the backdrop of renewed rapprochement between Donald Trump and the North Korean ruler. Just a day earlier, the President published a picture of himself standing next to Kim Jong Un and wrote that the two leaders get along great "despite the unfriendly look in this particular picture." The North Korean Foreign Ministry, for its part, attacked the joint exercises, calling them a "general rehearsal for a war of aggression" that creates instability in the region.
This is not the first time Donald Trump has spoken out against traditional military cooperation with Seoul. During his first term, after the historic Singapore summit in 2018, Donald Trump stunned the military establishment when he abruptly announced the cessation of the exercises, which he called "provocative." Even now, since his return to office, Donald Trump is expressing open interest in renewing direct dialogue with the North Korean dictator.
