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Trump Orders Pentagon to Cut South Korea Exercise Role

8/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to scale back America’s role in the South Korea-U.S. military exercise, praising Kim Jong-un in a social-media post.
The Pentagon press office said the Department of War is working to implement the order but gave no details on the reduction.
Analysts say there is little hope of quickly dismantling North Korea’s roughly 60 nuclear weapons and missiles despite Trump’s focus.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to scale back America’s role in the South Korea-U.S. military exercise, praising Kim Jong-un in a social-media post.
The Pentagon press office said the Department of War is working to implement the order but gave no details on the reduction.
Analysts say there is little hope of quickly dismantling North Korea’s roughly 60 nuclear weapons and missiles despite Trump’s focus.