Trump’s Praise for Kim Jong-un Raises Fresh Concerns Over US-South Korea Ties

The United States and South Korean militaries see their annual joint exercises as more important.

Than ever as North Korea expands its nuclear arsenal and gains battlefield experience from its involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine, says a New York Times report.

But the latest drills have exposed fresh tensions between Washington and Seoul. US President Donald Trump criticised the exercises shortly after they began on Monday and ordered that they be substantially reduced.

The move adds to pressure on the seven-decade-old US-South Korea alliance, which has already faced tensions over Trump’s tariffs on South Korean exports and his transactional approach to diplomacy.

Trump Calls North Korea ‘Unthreatening’
North Korea has expanded its nuclear arsenal in recent years and repeatedly threatened South Korea, which it now describes as a “most hostile enemy”. At the same time, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has strengthened ties with Moscow through a mutual defence treaty and sent troops and weapons to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Despite this, Trump described North Korea as “unthreatening and respectful” in a social media post and highlighted his “very good relationship” with Kim. He also criticised the joint US-South Korea military exercises as costly and hostile towards North Korea.

“I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!” Trump said.

If carried out, the directive would represent his first known concrete overture towards North Korea during his second term. It is not yet clear whether Kim will respond positively.

Drills Designed For A Changing Threat
The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise was designed to reflect changing military conditions, including lessons from recent conflicts such as the war in Ukraine.

The exercises are intended to test the alliance’s ability to rapidly deploy combat power and secure key terrain within the First Island Chain, a long Pacific archipelago that the US military views as a strategic frontier in the face of China’s territorial ambitions.

North Korea’s experience with drones and modern warfare through its support for Russia has added to the concerns facing the US and South Korean militaries.

Emma Chanlett-Avery, deputy director at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Trump’s description of North Korea as “unthreatening and respectful” was alarming to allies. She pointed to North Korea’s improved missile and nuclear capabilities and its growing relationship with Russia.

Seoul Fears Alliance Is ‘Hollowing Out’
South Korea’s government declined to comment on Trump’s post, which also criticised Seoul for not helping to “denuclearize” Iran.

The government confirmed that the military exercises had started as scheduled. However, the country’s defence establishment was deeply unsettled by Trump’s directive.

Analyst Lee Byong-chul of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Seoul said South Korean conservatives could see the alliance as turning into a “zombie”, with its strategic objectives and political energy weakening under Trump.

Trump has long questioned the cost of the US military presence in South Korea and accused Seoul of not paying enough towards the deployment.

During his first term, he cancelled or reduced major exercises, describing them as “tremendously expensive” and “very provocative”. That helped pave the way for three meetings with Kim but did not persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Trump And Lee May Share One Goal
Trump’s latest approach is not entirely unwelcome in Seoul. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has supported inter-Korean reconciliation and urged Trump to ease tensions through direct talks with Kim.

North Korea has repeatedly opposed the joint exercises, describing them as a “rehearsal for an aggressive war”, reports NYT.

Lee Byong-chul said the scaling back of the drills could be welcomed by the Lee administration, despite the different reasons behind the two leaders’ approaches.

Trump has also signalled his interest in renewing personal diplomacy with Kim. Over the weekend, he posted a photograph from 2019 showing the two leaders at the inter-Korean border, writing: “Kim Jong Un and I get along GREAT!”

A Tougher Road Back To Talks
A renewed round of Trump-Kim diplomacy could face greater obstacles than it did in 2018, added the NYT report.

North Korea is now a de facto nuclear state and has received economic support and diplomatic leverage from Moscow and Beijing. Kim has said he retains “a good memory” of Trump, but has also made clear that North Korea would return to talks only if Washington gives up its demand for denuclearisation. [Change Content]