Jerusalem Post/World NewsSouth Korean media reported US President Donald Trump's orders to "substantially reduce" US participation in the exercises and his mention of his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader. Follow us on GoogleA South Korean soldier stands next to a TV broadcasting a news report on a possible summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, October 22, 2025. (photo credit: KIM HONG-JI/ REUTERS)ByREUTERSAUGUST 19, 2026 03:11Updated: AUGUST 19, 2026 03:23Scheduled joint military drills by the US and South Korea are expected to be cut by about half, various South Korean media reported on Tuesday and Wednesday.Reports from South Korean broadcasters KBS, MBC, and the newspaper Kyunghyang follow US President Donald Trump's Sunday order to the Pentagon to "substantially reduce" US participation in the annual exercise and his mention of his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.The US Forces Korea declined to comment and directed queries to the Pentagon. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. South Korea's defense ministry had no comment.Trump pushing for Kim meetingTrump is pushing aides to meet with Kim as soon as this fall, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing US officials.Tourists sitting on a Seoul city tour bus look at anti-war protesters attending a rally to call for a halt to the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, August 17, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)The US president has privately discussed setting up an in-person discussion with Kim during Trump's next trip to Asia, which could happen in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Shenzhen, China, the Journal reported.Reuters could not immediately verify the report.Follow us on Google
US-South Korea military drills expected to be halved as Trump pushes for Kim Jong Un meeting
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