The United States and South Korea have shortened their annual joint military exercise following a request from Washington, just days after President Donald Trump called for the drills to be scaled back.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which began on Monday and was originally scheduled to last 10 days, will now conclude on Friday, August 21.
A Pentagon official said the decision was made under instructions from Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
“Based on direction from the President and Secretary of War, the Department has substantially reduced Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield while continuing training that enhances tactical capability,” the official said.
The Pentagon added that some live-training activities had been canceled or replaced with simulations while maintaining the main objectives of the exercise.
“Associated live-training events have been reduced, with certain events canceled or converted to simulations. These adjustments preserve essential readiness and training objectives,” the official said. “There will be no degradation to US training objectives.”
South Korea’s military confirmed that the exercise period and scale had been partially adjusted at the request of the United States.
The move follows Trump’s remarks on Sunday that he had asked Hegseth to reduce the drills because of his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Trump argued that the exercises sent a “totally inappropriate and hostile” message to Pyongyang and also pointed to South Korea’s limited assistance during the Iran war.
The decision has raised questions about the future of the long-standing US-South Korea security partnership.
The two countries have maintained a mutual defense treaty for more than seven decades, largely aimed at deterring North Korea, which has significantly expanded its nuclear and military capabilities.
North Korea has consistently opposed the annual exercises.
Its state-run KCNA described the drills as “the most immediate and open threat” to Pyongyang and regional security in an article published Wednesday.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung defended the exercises on Tuesday, saying they were not designed “to heighten tension on the Korean Peninsula.”
He described them instead as “a defensive exercise” intended to preserve peace and protect lives, while stressing that Seoul would “maintain an unwavering state of readiness.”
This year’s UFS was designed to address emerging threats from North Korea, including drone attacks, GPS interference and cyberattacks. At least 18,000 South Korean troops had been expected to participate.
South Korean military chiefs said both countries would continue discussions on ways to meet the objectives of the exercise and strengthen their combined defence posture.
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in another meeting with Kim.
The two leaders last met in 2019, when Trump briefly crossed the military demarcation line into North Korea.
On Monday, Trump said he and Kim had recently spoken but offered no details, telling reporters at the Oval Office, “I understand him. He understands me.”
He also rejected suggestions that his engagement with Kim undermines traditional US alliances, arguing that his approach toward the North Korean leader is helping make the world safer.
