US-South Korea cuts military exercise length by half after Trump’s demand | NK News
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September 23, 2026Sep 23, 2026

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US-South Korea cuts military exercise length by half after Trump’s demand

The announcement comes days after Trump ordered to ‘substantially’ reduce the military drills

The United States and South Korea have shortened their large-scale annual military exercise and scaled back some combined field training at Washington’s request, Seoul’s military said Wednesday.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced in a press release that the allies agreed to conduct this year’s Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) summertime exercise from Aug. 17 through Aug. 21, shortening it from the previously announced 11-day schedule. 

The large-scale drills, which involve both command post and field training, were originally set to run until Aug. 27. The allies will also reduce some combined outdoor maneuver training, with the details still