President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back the annual joint drills with South Korea after the ally declined to aid in a potential war against Iran and citing his good rapport with Kim Jong Un. Trump said the exercises, which began Monday, are costly and send a "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal to North Korea, which he claims has been "unthreatening and respectful".

In a post, Trump instructed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce the 11 days of training involving 18,000 South Korean soldiers, arguing the time is too late to cancel. He had previously praised South Korea’s defense spending but now blames the ally for not joining U.S. efforts to denuclearize Iran.

The drills are meant to reinforce the alliance’s role in regional security, testing joint operations passionately. Critics, including Sen. Mark Kelly, called the decision shortsighted. North Korea, meanwhile, threatened a strong response, labeling the U.S.–South Korea exercises a rehearsal for war.

The move marks a sharp turnaround in the administration’s stance toward Seoul and underscores Trump’s shifting priorities toward North Korea.