Trump defends scaling back of South Korea military exercise

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that his decision to cut back on joint military exercises with South Korea had to do with the country’s refusal to get involved with the war in Iran.

“You’re not going to help us on a very easy, military operation in Iran? That’s strange,” the president said in the Oval Office. “No, no, we’d rather not get involved. I said, well, why are we involved in helping you?”

Trump wrote on Truth Social Sunday that he was directing the Pentagon to scale back the number of U.S. troops involved in the annual drill, that takes place on the Korean peninsula. He wrote that the move had to do with the war, costs and his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The recurring exercise has been ongoing for decades, following the signing of a defense treaty with South Korea, to protect it from North Korea.

“It’s mind boggling to see that the president is giving a solid to our adversaries,” said Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Asia Policy Studies. “And it’s like you’ve forgotten who our adversaries are. But at the same time... it was very clear that he’s once again messaging his desire to meet with Kim Jong-un, to have engagement with North Korea.”

Trump also said Monday that Kim Jong-un had responded to his decision but did not elaborate on what the North Korean leader said.

The move marks another decision by Trump that is significantly different from how past presidents have approached the authoritarian state.

“I understand him, he understands me,” Trump said.