Key facts
- South Korea and the US military agreed to shorten the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise.
- The drills will now conclude on Friday, six days earlier than the originally scheduled August 27.
- The decision followed a request from U.S. President Donald Trump, who cited costs and his relationship with Kim Jong-un.
- Joint field training exercises will also be partially reduced.
- South Korea's foreign minister indicated the government was not informed in advance of Trump's directive.
South Korea and the U.S. military have agreed to shorten their joint Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercises, concluding them six days earlier than planned on Friday. The decision follows a request from U.S. President Donald Trump, who cited the cost of the drills and his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Field training exercises will also be partially reduced, with details still being finalized. South Korea's foreign minister indicated that the government was not informed in advance of Trump's directive, and reports suggested the second stage of the exercise might be scrapped entirely. Trump has also reportedly been pushing for a new meeting with Kim Jong-un.