Kim Jong Un said open to talks if Washington ended its "delusional obsession" with denuclearization

President Donald Trump has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to cut back the annual U.S.-South Korean military drills that began Monday, saying that the exercises are expensive and could anger North Korea, and that Seoul declined to join U.S. military action against Iran. Trump also said South Korean President Lee Jae Myung turned down a request to participate in Washington’s push for Iran’s nuclear disarmament. The order reverses earlier administration praise for Seoul and is the latest apparent instance of Trump siding with North Korea over a U.S. ally. North Korea, which had already called the drills preparation for war, has built up its nuclear and missile programs since nuclear talks collapsed in 2019. In September, Kim Jong Un said he recalled Trump warmly and would consider resuming dialogue if Washington ended its demands for North Korea’s nuclear disarmament.