South Korea Hints at Trump Pressure to Join Iran War
Seoul says Washington’s decision to scale back joint military drills appeared to carry pressure for South Korea to become involved in the conflict with Iran.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - South Korea on Wednesday suggested that US President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce joint military exercises with Seoul may have been linked to pressure on the country to participate in the war with Iran, as the annual drills were cut in half and brought to an early end.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Trump’s message ordering the reduction in the exercises appeared to contain pressure on Seoul to become involved in the Iran war.
South Korean military leaders had announced that the exercises would be reduced by half at Washington’s request. Seoul also said on Wednesday that the annual drills would end about one week earlier than originally scheduled after Trump described them as “hostile and inappropriate.”
On Sunday, Trump said he had instructed the Pentagon to reduce the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, one day before they were due to begin. He referred to the cost of the drills but said the move was primarily intended to avoid sending a “hostile and totally inappropriate” message to North Korea.
Trump also pointed to his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and said South Korea had refused to assist him in the war against Iran.
On Monday, Trump said Kim had responded positively to his changed position toward South Korea.
North Korea’s official news agency condemned the joint South Korea-US military exercises on Wednesday, without referring to Trump’s decision to reduce their scale.
“We will exercise our right to self-defense to neutralize military threats from hostile forces through transparent measures,” the agency said.
The agency described the exercises, which began Monday, as the “most direct and overt threats” to North Korea as well as to regional security.
Hours later, the South Korean military announced that the exercises would conclude on Friday rather than August 27, as originally planned.
Seoul said on Tuesday that the military exercises were not intended to “attack” North Korea.
North Korea regularly condemns the annual drills, describing them as preparations for a possible invasion. The United States has more than 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea.