South Korea, North Korea and Iran — coverage from 12 publishers

His decision to reduce the partnership came after South Korea recently declined to aid his war effort in Iran.

Joint US military exercises with South Korea will be downscaled, Donald Trump says, as they are "hostile" and too expensive.

President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Morristown, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)2026-08-16T21:37:11Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Pr

President Trump said Sunday he told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” the joint military exercises with South Korea. Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that he’s “not happy with

North Korea on Friday threatened steps against the U.S. and South Korea, describing their military drills as "a rehearsal for an aggressive war."

US President Donald Trump's announcement comes a day before the start of the annual drills in South Korea, which Pyongyang has decried as dress rehearsals for an invasion.

US president says he's 'not happy' about the drills, citing his 'very good relationship' with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

The US president previously slammed the joint drills as “provocative” in 2018 following a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.

President Trump explained the decision by saying South Korea had declined to help with the "denuclearization" of Iran and he cited his good relationship with North Korea's leader.

The 11-day joint drills between South Korea and the US military start on Monday

Everything you need to know before you reach the office this morning.

Donald Trump has ordered the US military to scale back joint exercises with South Korea.

US president cites Seoul's reluctance to back his war on Iran, and his warm ties with North Korea's leader as reasons.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a retired U.S. Navy Captain, blasted President Trump’s decision to reduce joint military exercises in South Korea as “shortsighted” and a “mistake.” “North and South Korea a

Republican Senator Thom Tillis says the decision allows North Korea to provide more support to Russia in Ukraine.

President Trump said Monday that he was turned off by South Korea not agreeing to help the U.S. denuclearize Iran even though the U.S. has troops in South Korea to deter aggression from North Korea, s

US president cites good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Kelly, Tillis urge Trump to reverse reduction to joint military exercises

Critics slammed the Trump administration over its surprise pull-back from the planned drills with South Korea, stressing that the move is yet another example of the US turning its back on its allies,

On Thursday, North Korea fired ten short-range ballistic missiles into eastern waters, a provocative move following the United States' decision to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. The