President says move is based on ‘very good relationship with Kim Jong-un’ but US military officials have said Ukraine war is boosting regime’s combat capabilities
Donald Trump has said he is scaling back joint US military drills with South Korea aimed at deterring North Korea, despite military officials from both countries warning that Kim Jong-un’s regime was learning new battlefield tactics from the Ukraine war.
The drills under Ulchi Freedom Shield, one of two major annual exercises held by South Korea and the US, start on Monday and run until 27 August.
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Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/17/trump-cuts-south-korea-joint-drills-us-military-good-relationship-kim-jong-un
Author : Raphael Rashid in Seoul
Publish date : 2026-08-17 01:49:00
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