2 weeks ago

South Korea Hopeful US-North Korea Talks After Trump Cuts Drills

South Korea Hopeful US-North Korea Talks After Trump Cuts Drills
South Korea Hopeful Of US-North Korea Talks After Trump Cuts Military Drills · NDTV

The United States and South Korea are friends who practice together to stay safe.

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, said they should do fewer of these practices.

He thinks the practices make North Korea angry.

South Korea hopes this will help the US and North Korea talk peacefully.

Some people worry that practicing less will make them less ready to protect themselves.

North Korea has been building more weapons and working with Russia.

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, wants the US to stop asking him to give up his nuclear weapons.

Many experts think North Korea won't come back to talks unless the US offers big concessions.

South Korea's president wants to end the Korean War with a peace treaty.

Everyone hopes for peace, but they disagree on how to get there.

Key facts

Military exercise
Ulchi Freedom Shield
Exercise duration
11 days
South Korean troops involved
About 18,000
US Defence Secretary
Pete Hegseth
South Korean President
Lee Jae Myung
North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un
North Korean response
Vowed 'a new level of a deterrent'; fired two ballistic missiles earlier this month
Korean War status
Ended with 1953 armistice, not a peace treaty

Quotes

President Donald Trump

U.S. President who ordered the reduction of joint military drills

“"Trump's recent social media posts about Kim Jong Un suggest a willingness to reengage, but North Korea is busy profiting from Russia's war against Ukraine while modernizing its own military."”
NDTV
“"The exercises are not only costly but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile to North Korea, which has been unthreatening and respectful during his time in the White House."”
NDTV

Sources

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