Trump reiterates remarks on S. Korea-US exercise cuts, 'very good' ties with NK's Kim
Summary
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his call to scale back South Korea-U.S. military exercises and his very good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as he seeks to reengage with Kim this year. He said the drills were costly and sent an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea. The post came amid speculation that he may seek a meeting with Kim during his next trip to Asia, likely for the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November.
Key Facts
- Trump said earlier this month that he instructed the Pentagon to substantially scale back the allied military exercises.
- South Korea and Washington shortened the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise to five days from 11 days, with other field training events reduced or canceled.
- Trump repeated that South Korea did not accede to his request to help the U.S. address the Iran war.
- He posted photos of his meetings with Kim in Singapore in June 2018 and at Panmunjom in June 2019, saying he wanted to rekindle personal diplomacy with Kim.
U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Korea Times file
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his earlier remarks about a directive to scale back South Korea-U.S. military exercises and his "very good" relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as he seeks to reengage with Kim this year.
Trump posted the message on social media, which was identical to his Aug. 16 post, except for a change in tense, amid speculation that he could pursue a meeting with Kim during his next trip to Asia, likely for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November.
Earlier this month, he instructed the Pentagon to "substantially" scale back the allied military exercises. Subsequently, Seoul and Washington shortened the duration of the annual combined Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise to five days from 11 days, with other field training events reduced or canceled.
"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I was not happy with the fact that the United States had, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but 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," he added.
The latest post came a day after he posted three photos of his meetings with Kim in Singapore during their first summit in June 2018 and at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom for their third and last meeting in June 2019, in an apparent show of his desire to rekindle personal diplomacy with Kim.
On Aug. 15, he also posted on Truth Social a photo of his meeting with Kim at Panmunjom, repeating his claim that he and Kim "get along great." In June, he posted a photo of the leaders' meeting in Singapore in 2018.
In Tuesday's post, Trump also repeated his claim that South Korea did not accede to his request to help the U.S. address the Iran war.
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