Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Trump Says Kim Jong Un Responded After Scaling Back Seoul Drills
President Trump is the leader of the United States.
He said that Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has been talking to him again.
Trump and Kim are friends, and Trump says their friendship makes the world safer.
Trump told the military to make big practice war games with South Korea smaller.
He said those games were not nice and were too aggressive.
Trump was also upset with South Korea because it did not want to help the US fight a war with Iran.
Some people in the US government think Trump's decision is a bad idea.
They worry that other countries will not trust the US to protect them anymore.
North Korea does not like the practice games and said it might do something new to protect itself.
South Korea said the practice games started anyway, just like they were planned.
Trump said Kim Jong Un has responded to his overtures and called the conversations 'very positive.'
Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back 'inappropriate and hostile' military drills with South Korea.
Trump linked the drill decision to South Korea's refusal to help with the US war against Iran.
South Korean officials said the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises began as planned, while North Korea warned of a 'new level of deterrent.'
Senator Jack Reed slammed the decision, saying China and Russia are watching how easily Trump abandons America's allies.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korean officials, and Senator Jack Reed
- What
- Trump said Kim responded to his overtures and ordered scaled-back military drills with South Korea
- When
- Monday, following a Sunday night announcement on Truth Social
- Where
- The Oval Office in Washington and South Korea, site of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises
- Why
- Trump cited his personal ties with Kim and South Korea's refusal to help with the US war against Iran
Critics of Trump's decision
Trump administration view
Military drills with South Korea
Critics of Trump's decision
Senator Reed and military officials see the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises as essential preparation for a possible war with North Korea; scaling them back is an 'inane, haphazard decision.'
Trump administration view
Trump calls the drills 'inappropriate and hostile' and says his personal ties with Kim make the situation 'much safer.'
US alliance commitments
Critics of Trump's decision
Critics say China and Russia are watching how easily Trump abandons America's allies, casting doubt on US security commitments in East Asia.
Trump administration view
Trump says the US cannot protect countries that do not help with the Iran war, linking the drill cuts to South Korea's refusal to assist.
North Korea's response to drills
Critics of Trump's decision
North Korea decries the drills as dress rehearsals for an invasion and warned it could respond with a 'new level of deterrent.'
Trump administration view
Trump says his relationship with Kim reduces tensions and that Kim has 'always treated me with great respect.'
- US President
- Donald Trump
- North Korean leader
- Kim Jong Un
- Military exercises
- Ulchi Freedom Shield (11 days)
- US troops in South Korea
- About 28,500 (Trump cited 39,000)
- Trump-Kim meetings
- Three in Trump's first term
- North Korea's recent action
- Test-fired a ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan
- Key critic
- Senator Jack Reed, Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member
- Aircraft carrier
- USS George Washington redeployed to the Middle East