US, South Korea Cut Joint Military Drills Short After Trump Order

South Korea and the United States have shortened their annual joint military drills from 11 days to five, following President Trump’s order to substantially reduce US participation. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which began August 17, will now conclude August 21 instead of its original end date of August 27. South Korea’s Defense Minister said the allies are also moving to cancel the drills’ second phase, which had been expected to involve counterattack operations.

Changes Come as China’s Foreign Minister Visits

The scaled-back drills coincide with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to South Korea for regional security talks. A US Defense Department official said some field-training events would be canceled or converted to simulations, while insisting the changes would preserve essential readiness without degrading training objectives.

Trump’s Motives Tied to Broader Strategy

Trump’s order followed his cited “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Analysts suggest the move may be aimed at pressuring Seoul over investment commitments, shifting focus from tensions with Iran, and reopening diplomatic channels with Pyongyang. Trump has reportedly pushed aides to arrange an in-person meeting with Kim as early as this autumn, possibly during a November trip to Asia.

North Korea Responds Cautiously

North Korea again condemned the drills as provocative but notably avoided directly mentioning Trump or the reduction, a choice analysts say may signal openness to diplomacy. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung maintained the exercises remain defensive in nature.