Joint military exercises underway between the United States and South Korea are being cut short, both countries said, after President Donald Trump, citing his “very good” relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, ordered that they be reduced.
\n\nThe annual U.S.-South Korea drills, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, will end Aug. 21 rather than Aug. 27 as originally scheduled, a Defense Department official said.
\n\n“Associated live-training events have been reduced, with certain events canceled or converted to simulations,” the official said, adding that the adjustments “preserve essential readiness.”
\n\n“There will be no degradation to U.S. training objectives,” the official said.
\n\nTrump orders reduction of joint exercises with South Korea
\n\nThe South Korean National Defense Ministry also said the two countries “have agreed, at the request of the U.S. side, to make some adjustments to the duration and scale of the exercise.”
\n\nSome of the combined field training exercises will be conducted on a reduced scale, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the U.S. and South Korea “are currently consulting on the specific details.”
\n\n“Going forward, the ROK and the United States will discuss and implement various measures to achieve the objectives of the UFS exercise and maintain…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health