Trump Says He Ordered Cuts To US-South Korea Drills Near North Korea, Calls Kim 'Unthreatening And Respectful'

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he instructed Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce planned U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises near North Korea, saying the drills would be "totally inappropriate and hostile" toward a country he described as "unthreatening and respectful" during his presidency.

In a Sunday post, Trump said his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un justified scaling back the exercises rather than canceling them outright, because it was "too late" to call them off. In the same post, he said South Korea declined when he asked whether it would join the U.S. on Iran-related denuclearization efforts, quoting their response as "No thanks!"

What Trump Posted

"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea... These exercises... send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful."

"Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!... While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, 'No thanks!'"

Trump used the informal label "Secretary of War" for Hegseth in the post; that is not an official U.S. title. The announcement adds to an unconventional public history between Trump and Kim: in 2017 Trump called Kim "Rocket Man" and warned of a "suicide mission" over nuclear tests, later softening his rhetoric and at times praising or complimenting the North Korean leader.

Past Rhetoric

Trump's tone toward Kim has shifted over the years. He once warned Kim's nuclear program could lead to catastrophe for North Korea, and later described him as "very honorable". During his 2024 campaign, Trump even suggested taking Kim to a New York Yankees game as a way to defuse tensions, saying at one rally: "Just relax. Chill. You got enough. You got so much nuclear weapons... Let's go to a baseball game. I'll show you what a baseball [is]."

The post was first reported by Mediaite and has drawn attention for its mix of diplomatic messaging and partisan commentary. Observers note the announcement raises questions about alliance coordination with South Korea and U.S. policy toward North Korea's nuclear program.