Trump Is Signaling This To Kim Jong Un By Scaling Back Military Drills With South Korea: Expert

BusinessTrump Is Signaling This To Kim Jong Un By Scaling Back Military Drills With South Korea: ExpertByForbesTV,Forbes Staff.Follow AuthorAug 18, 2026, 01:18pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.On Sunday evening, one day before they were set to kick off, President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce the joint military exercises” between the U.S. and South Korea. On Truth Social, Trump cited his "very good relationship" with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, paired with the high cost of the exercises, as the reasons behind his decision to scale down the drills. Trump also mentioned South Korea’s unwillingness to join the U.S. in its war against Iran in his post, though he said that was "somewhat unrelated" to his decision to reduce these exercises. Lyle Goldstein, who serves as both the director of the China Initiative at the Watson School of International and Public Affairs at Brown University, as well as the director of the Asia program at Defense Priorities, joined "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss the news.Watch the full interview above. Got a tip? Share confidential information with Forbes.Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions