Why did the United States cancel the Ssangyong drill with South Korea?

The U.S. cancelled the joint amphibious landing drill because it said its forces were constrained by the war in Iran. The South Korean Marine Corps said the U.S. Marine Corps had already warned in June that force availability would be limited for the division-level exercise.

What did South Korea say about the future of the cancelled joint marine drills?

The South Korean Marine Corps said the allies are in close consultations on resuming the drills. The spokesperson did not say what steps might be taken to prevent future cancellations or recover lost training opportunities.

How has North Korea reacted to the latest South Korea-US military exercises?

North Korea fired 10 short-range ballistic missiles last week and issued a statement denouncing the exercises. The article says Pyongyang has long condemned the joint drills as rehearsals for invasion.

US cancels joint marine drills with South Korea over Iran war-related force constraints

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Summary

The United States cancelled a joint amphibious landing drill scheduled for next month with South Korea in Seoul, the South Korean Marine Corps said Monday. Washington cited constraints on U.S. force availability because of the war in Iran. The allies are still in close consultations on resuming the drills, while the cancellation follows a separate reduction in annual joint exercises ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Key Facts

The cancelled drill was the division-level Ssangyong amphibious landing exercise.
The U.S. Marine Corps formally notified its South Korean counterpart in June that force availability would be constrained.
The South Korean Marine Corps spokesperson said the allies remain in close consultations on resuming the drills.
Trump also said the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills sent a signal that was totally inappropriate and hostile to a country that, as long as he has been president, has been unthreatening and respectful.
Despite the reduction in exercises, Pyongyang fired 10 short-range ballistic missiles last week and denounced the drills.

By Reuters

Published Aug 24, 2026 3:00 pm KST

Marines from South Korea and the United States participate in Ssangyong (double dragon) exercise in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, March 29, 2023. Yonhap

The United States cancelled a joint amphibious landing drill scheduled for next month with South Korea, Seoul's Marine Corps said on Monday, after Washington cited constraints on the availability of U.S. forces due to the war in Iran.

The U.S. Marine Corps formally notified its South Korean counterpart in June that force availability would be constrained for the division-level exercise, known as Ssangyong, a South Korean Marine Corps spokesperson told a press briefing.

The allies remain in close consultations on resuming the drills, the spokesperson said. He did not specify what measures might be taken to prevent future cancellations or to make up for lost training opportunities.

U.S. Forces Korea did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The cancellation follows U.S. President Donald Trump's surprise order to scale back a separate annual joint military exercise that ended last Friday, citing the cost and Seoul's refusal to take part in the Iran war.

Trump also wrote on his Truth Social platform that the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills sent "a signal that was totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful."

Despite the reduction of the exercises, Pyongyang fired 10 short-range ballistic missiles last week and issued a statement denouncing the exercises.

North Korea has long condemned such joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion.

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