South Korea and the United States will shorten their annual joint military exercises, the South Korean military confirmed on Wednesday, following an order from US President Donald Trump to sharply reduce combined drills between the two nations.
The announcement comes as the alliance between Seoul and Washington continues to adapt to the new policy direction of the White House. The move is seen as an effort to facilitate diplomatic engagement with North Korea, which has seen notable progress in recent months.
No specific details have been provided about the extent of the reduction or the adjusted schedule for upcoming exercises. However, analysts suggest that scaling down the size and duration of the drills could affect the combined forces' combat readiness amid persistent regional security challenges.
The South Korean military has stated that it will coordinate closely with the US side to ensure the maintenance of joint defense capabilities while continuing to monitor developments on the Korean Peninsula.
