South Korea has shortened its joint military exercises with the United States at Washington’s request, according to BBC. The move comes as former President Donald Trump signals he expects to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before the end of the year.
BBC reports that the decision to reduce the scale of the drills was made following a direct appeal from the U.S. side. The exact duration of the shortened exercises and the specific reasons behind Washington’s request were not detailed in the reporting.
The development drew an immediate response from Pyongyang. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un, issued statements on consecutive days criticizing Seoul, according to Japanese media and other outlets cited in the BBC summary. She described South Korea as a “pitiful” entity that must end its “war games,” and characterized the U.S.-South Korea alliance as a “master-servant relationship,” per the Nikkei and FNN reports.
Kim Yo Jong’s remarks appeared to seize on the drill reduction as evidence that Seoul’s military command ultimately answers to Washington. She framed the situation as proof that South Korea has handed over operational control to its ally, according to the Yonhap-affiliated coverage summarized by BBC.
The timing is notable: Trump’s stated intention to meet Kim within months comes amid heightened tension on the peninsula, with reports citing North Korea’s possession of a significant nuclear arsenal. The Yomiuri Shimbun, as referenced in the BBC summary, noted Trump’s comment that the North holds “very powerful” nuclear weapons.
What to watch next: Whether Trump’s proposed meeting materializes and how the shortened drills affect Seoul’s defense posture in the interim.
