South Korea president stresses US alliance after Trump orders exercise cuts
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said national security depends on a strong alliance with the United States after President Donald Trump ordered major cuts to joint military exercises.
- Trump announced the reduction in a social media post just before annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills began, saying South Korea had not joined the U.S. war against Iran and pointing to his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
- The decision was reported to have been made without consultations with South Korea, adding to concern in Seoul about the reliability of the alliance.
- South Korea relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella and hosts about 28,500 American troops, so any weakening of U.S. defense commitments is viewed as a security concern.
- South Korean media and officials expressed confusion and anxiety, while North Korea accused the allies of provocative drills and promised a stronger response.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that the country’s security is strengthened when its alliance with the United States is solid. He made the remarks after President Donald Trump abruptly ordered the U.S. military to “substantially reduce” joint exercises with South Korea.
Trump announced the move in a social media post just before the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills began. He said South Korea had refused to join his war against Iran and pointed to what he described as his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The decision appeared to have been made without consultation with Seoul and raised concern about the durability of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, which dates to the Korean War. South Korea depends on the U.S. nuclear umbrella and hosts about 28,500 American troops, making any sign of reduced U.S. commitment politically and strategically sensitive.
South Korean media described the announcement as unsettling, and the North Korean Foreign Ministry accused the allies of planning more provocative drills. It said North Korea would respond with a new level of deterrence.
韩国总统强调美韩同盟，特朗普下令缩减联合军演引发困惑
韩国总统李在明周二表示，只要韩美同盟稳固，韩国的国家安全就会更有保障。他是在美国总统特朗普突然下令“实质性缩减”韩美联合军演后作出上述表态的。
特朗普在年度“乙支自由护盾”演习开始前通过社交媒体宣布这一决定。他说，韩国没有加入他对伊朗的战争，并提到自己与朝鲜领导人金正恩关系良好。
报道显示，这一决定似乎未与首尔方面协商，引发外界对韩美同盟稳固性的担忧。韩国依赖美国的核保护伞，境内约有2.85万名美军驻扎，因此任何美国防务承诺减弱的迹象都会被视为敏感的安全问题。
韩国媒体对这一消息表示不安，朝鲜外务省则指责韩美在策划更具挑衅性的演习，并称朝鲜将采取“新层次”的威慑回应。