Trump says US to reduce military drills with South Korea after it stayed out of Iran war
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
The text below was supplied by the Scoop Newsroom app. Third-party reporting is attributed in the source panel.
In its statement, South Korea's presidential Blue House said it would continue diplomatic consultations on US-Korea military cooperation related to the Strait of Hormuz, while discussing details on joint military drills with the United States. US military spokesperson Ryan Donald said "our training accounts for that threat", referring to North Korean soldiers returning from the battlefield.
Dated changes to this report are shown here as they are published.
Version 2unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 3published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 4unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 5published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 6unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 7published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 8unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 9published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 10unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 11published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 12unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 13published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 14unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 15published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 16unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 17published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 18unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 19published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 20unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 21published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 22unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 23published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 24unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 25published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 26unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 27published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".
Version 28unpublished
Removed by Scoop Timeline eligibility policy
Version 29published
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump's comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented. Earlier, South Korea said the drills with the US would proceed "as scheduled".