Trump praises North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, slashes military drills with Seoul

Costas PitasAugust 17, 2026 — 8:04amUS President Donald Trump said he had instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea in a social media post that also mentioned Seoul’s refusal to take part in actions against Iran.Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site on Monday morning (AEST) that, although it was too late to cancel the exercises entirely, he was “not happy” that the US had previously agreed to participate.Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in 2020. The US president met the North Korean leader three times during his first term.Getty ImagesThe US president also cited his “very good relationship” with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.“These exercises are not only costly ... but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful,” he wrote.Trump also pointed to South Korea’s stance on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.“While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!’” Trump wrote.The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military drills are scheduled to run from August 17 to 27.More to comeReutersGet a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.More:Donald TrumpSouth KoreaNorth KoreaNorth Korea diplomacyTrump diplomacyIranUSAKim Jong-unFrom our partners