South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated Wednesday that Seoul received no advance notification before President Donald Trump announced a substantial reduction in joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. Trump had declared his decision on Sunday via a Truth Social post, instructing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to implement the cuts.
"Neither our government nor U.S. officials knew what President Trump wrote on his Truth Social," Cho told the National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs and Unification. "We were not notified in advance."
Despite the lack of prior notice, South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back has been in "close consultation" with his U.S. counterparts regarding the adjustments to the military drills. Both the Pentagon and South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff have confirmed that joint operations have indeed been reduced.
Trump cited the costliness and "totally inappropriate and hostile" nature of the exercises toward North Korea as reasons for the reduction. He also referenced North Korea's perceived respectful behavior during his presidency and South Korea's refusal to join the U.S.-led coalition against Iran. Trump has maintained a friendly relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, meeting him three times during his presidency.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, an annual large-scale training event with approximately 50 years of history, has been shortened. An official from the Defense Department indicated that while associated live-training events have been reduced, with some canceled or converted to simulations, "training that enhances tactical capability" will continue. The adjustments aim to "preserve essential readiness and training objectives" without degrading U.S. training goals.
North Korea has largely dismissed the significance of the drill reductions. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stated on Wednesday that Pyongyang was "unaware" and knew "absolutely nothing" about any recent communication between Trump and her brother. She added that North Korea has "no interest whatsoever" in Trump’s announcement, asserting that any reduction in the scale or duration of the drills does not alter their "provocative and aggressive nature."
Trump expressed his intent to meet with Kim Jong Un again this year, though further details were not provided. He also commented on North Korea's nuclear arsenal, stating, "He has 57 very powerful nuclear weapons. Should have never allowed it to happen, they should never have allowed it. If I were president, I never would have allowed it."
This move by Trump echoes a similar decision made during his first term. Following a 2018 summit in Singapore with Kim Jong Un, Trump suspended the Ulchi exercise at that time, framing it as a diplomatic gesture toward North Korea.