US, South Korean militaries wrap up drill early, a day after North Korea’s missile barrage

Live updates

1. 22d ago

   US and South Korea End Military Drills Early After North Korean Missile Barrage

   The United States and South Korea concluded joint military exercises ahead of schedule on August 24, one day after North Korea launched a missile barrage. Separate from this early wrap-up, the US cancelled a joint amphibious landing drill planned for next month. Seoul's Marine Corps stated Washington cited limited force availability due to the war in Iran. While Donald Trump has ordered a scale-back of exercises and urged South Korea to defend itself, some GOP lawmakers are calling for the restoration of these drills to maintain regional readiness.

   Why it matters

   Joint drills serve as a primary deterrent against North Korean aggression and ensure interoperability between US and South Korean forces. The current reduction in military activity coincides with Trump's overtures to Kim Jong Un and US military commitments in Iran. This shift has prompted concerns regarding the stability of US security guarantees in East Asia.

   What is confirmed

   • US and South Korean militaries wrapped up a drill early one day after a North Korean missile barrage.
   • The United States cancelled a joint amphibious landing drill scheduled for next month with South Korea.
   • Washington cited constraints on the availability of US forces due to the war in Iran as the reason for the marine drill cancellation.
   • Donald Trump has scaled back military exercises with South Korea.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Trump's overtures to Kim Jong Un could delay South Korea's ability to defend itself.

   What to watch next

   • Response from the US Department of Defense regarding the impact of the Iran war on East Asian readiness
   • Official statements from North Korea regarding the reduced scale of US-South Korea drills
   • Legislative action or formal requests from GOP lawmakers to restore the cancelled exercises
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. The Atlantic — Trump Will Make South Korea Pay For His Iran Humiliation
   2. CNN — Trump wants South Korea to defend itself. His overtures to Kim Jong Un could delay that.
   3. The New York Times — ‘No Interest’: North Korea Dismisses Reduced U.S. Drills With South Korea
   4. CNBC — Trump scaling down U.S.-South Korea drills risks more than just joint military readiness
   5. The New York Times — Trump’s Order to Cut Military Exercises With South Korea Carries Risks, Experts Say
   6. The Economist — Donald Trump abruptly scales back an exercise with South Korea
   7. AP News — US, South Korean militaries wrap up drill early, a day after North Korea’s missile barrage
   8. Council on Foreign Relations — Trump’s South Korea Social Post Poses Risks for the United States
   9. Reuters — South Korea presidential office urges North Korea to stop 'unnecessary slander', media reports
   10. PBS — U.S.-South Korea military drill wraps up early, a day after North Korea's missile barrage
   11. Financial Times — Trump’s South Korea defence flip reminds Japan that it has no Plan B
   12. The Hill — What Trump’s cold shoulder toward South Korea means to our allies
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