Trump Scales Back 11-Day South Korea Drills as He Pursues Kim Amid Iran War Strains
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 18
Trump Scales Back 11-Day South Korea Drills as He Pursues Kim Amid Iran War Strains
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 18
Summary
Trump said Kim Jong Un replied to his recent overtures in a “very positive” exchange, a day after ordering the Pentagon to reduce the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises with South Korea.
The rollback followed Trump’s public rebuke of Seoul for refusing to help the US fight Iran, with analysts also pointing to frustration over slow South Korean investment in the United States.
28,500 US troops remain stationed in South Korea, and trimming the drills raises anxiety in Seoul because the exercises are meant to prepare for a possible conflict with North Korea.
The Wall Street Journal reported Trump is pressing aides to arrange a Kim summit as soon as autumn, a move that could offer a diplomatic win before the November 3 midterm elections.
North Korea still distrusts Washington, analysts say, and Kim has demanded recognition of Pyongyang’s nuclear status—an obstacle to any broader breakthrough.