Eigen RadarGeopolitics
Archive
Analysis

Seoul starts the drills as Trump opens a door to Kim

South Korea began Ulchi Freedom Shield on schedule after Trump ordered joint drills cut back, then said Kim Jong Un had responded 'very positively' to talks. Pyongyang has not confirmed the exchange.

Geopolitics··Midday
Anonymous soldiers coordinate a drill beside two unmarked armored vehicles and a distant command tent on a bright green training field.

Trump orders a cutback as Ulchi Freedom Shield begins

President Donald Trump directed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" joint exercises with South Korea, citing their cost and the "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal he said they send to North Korea, NPR reported. South Korea's Defence Ministry said the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise began on Monday as planned, with Seoul contributing 18,000 soldiers. Trump tied his decision to Seoul's refusal to back the effort to "denuclearise" Iran and described North Korea as "unthreatening and respectful" during his time in office. In early August North Korea tested 2 ballistic missiles, its first testing since late June.[1]

Trump says Kim answered 'very positively'

A day after that cutback instruction, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his request for a conversation, calling the exchange "very positive" without elaborating, Al Jazeera reported. Trump said Kim had always treated him with great respect and that the two men understand each other. The two leaders last met in 2019, when talks over nuclear weapons collapsed. North Korea has since deepened its ties with Russia and sent troops to Ukraine.[2]

Pyongyang stays silent, with no independent confirmation

Pyongyang has made no public comment on Trump's account of the exchange, and Al Jazeera notes the claim is not independently verified. As NPR reported, Seoul began Ulchi Freedom Shield on the planned schedule even as Washington ordered the joint programme scaled back. Without confirmation from North Korea, Trump's description of a warm reply from Kim stands as a US presidential statement rather than a verified bilateral opening.[2], [1]

References

  1. News sourceNPRTrump orders the joint drills cut back, and Seoul starts them on schedule↩1↩2
  2. News sourceAl JazeeraTrump announces a 'very positive' reply from Kim Jong Un↩1↩2
Chip wars and the supply chainRussia-Ukraine warMiddle East balance of powerEnergy transition and climate

More analysis from this desk

View all Brief analyses from the Geopolitics desk →