Donald Trump says US‑South Korea drills are a "signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile"

On Sunday former president Donald Trump announced that he has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to sharply curtail the United States’ combined training operations with South Korea, saying the sizable yearly drills convey an unsuitable and antagonistic message toward North Korea. He linked the decision to Seoul’s refusal to take part in a proposed military action against Iran and highlighted his personal rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which he described as amicable and non‑threatening during his tenure. The move, announced via a social‑media post, marks a shift in U.S. regional military coordination and reflects Trump’s stated priority of easing tensions with Pyongyang while responding to South Korea’s stance on the Iran issue.