US Cuts Short Joint Drills With South Korea, Testing a Key Alliance

South Korea says its annual joint military drills with the US, Ulchi Freedom Shield, will end six days early — on 21 August instead of 27 — at Washington’s request, with part of the field training also scaled back. The move follows President Trump’s push to reduce exercises with South Korea, which he called costly and hostile toward North Korea, citing his good ties with Kim Jong Un. He also linked it to Seoul refusing to help with US plans on Iran. Seoul says it had no advance warning. The rare cut raises doubts about America’s security commitment to South Korea and signals concern to allies like Japan and Taiwan. North Korea condemned the drills as war preparation.