Why did Trump scale back war games with South Korea?

Video Duration 28 minutes 10 seconds play-arrow28:10U.S. president cites good relationship with Kim Jong UnAnnual military manoeuvres between South Korea and the United States are underway.But just hours before they were due to start, the US president announced that he had ordered the Pentagon to substantially scale back the exercises.Donald Trump says they send an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea and its leader, with whom he has a ‘good relationship’.The joint drills have been held for decades.So, does Trump’s last-minute decision mean he’s seeking talks with Kim Jong Un?Could dialogue end one of the world’s longest-running conflicts?Presenter: Anna Burns-FrancisGuests:In Bum Chun – Retired South Korean Lieutenant General and military and security analystJenny Town – Senior Fellow and Director of 38 North programme at the Stimson CenterRodger Baker — Geopolitical analyst at RANE, a global centre for geopolitical intelligence and analysisPublished On 17 Aug 202617 Aug 2026SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink