Donald Trump says US-South Korea drills send North Korea a "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal

President Donald Trump on Sunday directed the Pentagon to reduce the size of upcoming joint military training with South Korea, saying in a social media post that the exercises, planned to begin this week, were expensive and sent North Korea an overly hostile message. He ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to cut the drills substantially because it was too late to cancel them. The training had involved about 18,000 South Korean troops over 11 days to strengthen their ability to respond to a North Korean threat. Trump added that South Korea had declined his request to join U.S. efforts to denuclearize Iran. North Korea had warned Friday of unspecified retaliation, calling such exercises preparation for aggressive war. Trump met North Korea’s leader three times during his first term and has expressed interest in resuming talks.