{"id":2647191,"date":"2026-08-20T04:13:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T08:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-korea-shrugs-off-trumps-scaled-back-drills-with-south-korea-saying-it-changes-nothing\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T04:18:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T08:18:21","slug":"north-korea-shrugs-off-trumps-scaled-back-drills-with-south-korea-saying-it-changes-nothing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-korea-shrugs-off-trumps-scaled-back-drills-with-south-korea-saying-it-changes-nothing\/","title":{"rendered":"North Korea shrugs off Trump\u2019s scaled-back drills with South Korea, saying it changes nothing"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnorth-korea-shrugs-off-trumps-scaled-back-drills-with-south-korea-saying-it-changes-nothing%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2647191&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>North Korea responded to the U.S. and South Korea&#8217;s decision to scale back military exercises by affirming that the provocative nature of the drills remains unchanged, despite reductions in duration and size. Kim Yo Jong,Kim Jong Un\u2019s sister,dismissed the need for comments on the move,highlighting ongoing military drills and South Korea&#8217;s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines,while also denying any direct communications with President Trump. Despite recent efforts to de-escalate tensions, relations remain tense, with North korea criticizing joint exercises as &#8220;frantic&#8221; and &#8220;dangerous,\u201d and emphasizing its nuclear capabilities and military cooperation with Russia. Meanwhile, the U.S. and South Korea confirmed they would end some exercises early and downsize others, citing improved relations with North Korea and strategic adjustments, though they assure that essential training objectives are maintained. Prospects for a summit between Trump and Kim remain uncertain, as North Korea demands significant concessions before engaging in talks, especially given its expanding nuclear program. Trump indicated he plans to meet with Kim this year but suggested that recent moves might be more motivated by regional diplomacy and U.S. interests, including potential pressure related to Iran. The overall situation underscores ongoing complex negotiations, military readiness concerns, and the delicate balance of diplomatic efforts in the region.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SEOUL, South Korea (AP) \u2014 North Korea said Wednesday that a U.S. decision to scale back <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-south-korea-drills-north-kim-ea0ab19e6565b1b5ce22143c5b4e9f9d\">military exercises<\/a> with South Korea does not change what it sees as the provocative nature of the drills, dampening hopes for an early resumption of diplomacy between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/kim-yo-jong\">powerful sister<\/a> of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made the comments Wednesday night in her country\u2019s first reaction to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/korea-trump-military-exercises-ae21e0af5ea16f0a74e9a176b3cc2136\">Trump\u2019s moves<\/a> to drastically cut back the annual U.S.-South Korean military drills.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4686809\/national-debt-40-trillion-grim-milestone\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>National debt crosses $40 trillion in grim milestone<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4677709\/september-social-security-direct-payment-994-goes-out-13-days\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>September Social Security direct payment worth $994 goes out in 13 days<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4692410\/trump-ridicules-sleazebag-vindman-election-loss-radical-left-lunatic\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump ridicules \u2018SleazeBag Vindman\u2019 for loss to \u2018Radical Left Lunatic\u2019 in Florida Democratic Senate primary<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe think it\u2019s not worth making comments on that and we have no interest in it at all,\u201d Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media. \u201cThe provocative, aggressive nature of the drills won\u2019t change even though their duration and size were reduced.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She also cited a series of other military drills carried out by the U.S. and South Korea earlier this year and South Korea\u2019s push to introduce nuclear-powered submarines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kim Yo Jong denied that there are any communications between Trump and Kim. Earlier this week, pressed by reporters on whether he had a conversation with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/kim-jong-un\/\">Kim Jong Un,<\/a> Trump said that Kim had responded to his request for a conversation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kim Yo Jong\u2019s statement did not contain North Korea\u2019s typically harsh rhetoric. She briefly said relations between her brother and Trump are \u201cstill excellent,\u201d mentioning her brother\u2019s past comments that he still has \u201cgood memories\u201d of Trump. This suggests North Korea may be trying to manage relations with Trump, while seeking bigger concessions to restart talks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked by reporters Wednesday if he will meet with Kim Jong Un this year, Trump said that \u201cYeah, I will be.\u201d He wouldn\u2019t answer a question about whether he is exchanging letters with Kim but said he gets along with him.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-us-and-south-korea-confirm-drastic-slashing-of-drills\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">US and South Korea confirm drastic slashing of drills<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kim Yo Jong\u2019s statement came hours after the South Korean and U.S. militaries confirmed they were scaling back their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. Trump earlier ordered the Pentagon to \u201csubstantially reduce\u201d the exercises, citing what he said was a good relationship with Kim and South Korea\u2019s refusal to support him over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/iran\">Iran.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Korean officials said Trump\u2019s announcement came without prior notice, baffling many people in the Asian country and raising concerns about joint defense readiness.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Korea\u2019s military said the allies agreed to adjust the duration and scale of the exercises at the request of the U.S. It said the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/south-korea-us-military-drills-north-caaf065af4ddb7ffc276a744be652a5c\">ongoing drills<\/a> would end Friday, not Aug. 27 as initially planned. It added that the allies also agreed to downsize some joint field training exercises.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Pentagon said that it was \u201ccontinuing training that enhances tactical capability\u201d but certain events have been canceled or converted to simulations. \u201cThese adjustments preserve essential readiness and training objectives. There will be no degradation to U.S. training objectives,\u201d a Pentagon statement said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/south-korea-us-drills-ulchi-freedom-shield-north-korea-7c938649e2e18bae5fc781a9e98223c4\">Ulchi Freedom Shield<\/a> is largely a computer-simulated command post exercise meant to hone the allies\u2019 ability to deal with potential North Korean aggression. The two countries usually hold a set of field training exercises during the command post exercise period.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drills are a central pillar of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, which dates to the 1950-53 Korean War. But they also are a long-running source of animosities with North Korea, which has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/north-south-korea-us-drills-missiles-346a977644e51b96d9d1f9abf9cd83fc\">denounced the exercises<\/a> as a rehearsal for an invasion and responded with provocative missile tests. Days before this month\u2019s drills began, North Korea launched two <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/korea-tensions-south-north-japan-ballistic-missle-3622cedfdba8216224f6137dea5f0cb9\">ballistic missiles<\/a> into the sea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This month\u2019s drills were initially supposed to be held in two phases in simulation of North Korean attacks \u2014 the first part until this Friday on defensive operations and the second part until Aug. 27 on counteroffensive operations. North Korea is extremely sensitive to counteroffensive drills, according to South Korean media.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-prospects-for-trump-kim-summit-unclear\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prospects for Trump-Kim summit unclear<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier Wednesday, North Korea\u2019s state news agency, KCNA, published a commentary slamming the U.S.-South Korean military drills as \u201cfrantic\u201d and \u201cextremely dangerous\u201d and vowing to completely frustrate its rivals\u2019 hostilities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many experts said Kim, now emboldened by his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/north-korea-kim-nuclear-uranium-8b8cb67751916637e0db62d6bc0147a2\">advancing nuclear program<\/a> and expanding military <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/north-korea-south-korea-russia-ukraine-war-34716db67af6176d0d5e0ebf1b887881\">cooperation with Russia<\/a>, won\u2019t likely embrace Trump\u2019s overture and return to talks anytime soon unless he\u2019s promised bigger concessions. Kim suggested last year that he could only return to talks if the U.S. drops its demand for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/north-korea-trump-kim-good-memories-nuclear-be9f1f41e56914ca07934bf7c50b8237\">North Korean denuclearization<\/a> as a precondition for diplomacy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump claimed Wednesday that North Korea has 57 nuclear weapons. Some experts put the size of the North\u2019s arsenal at more than 100 warheads.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Korea\u2019s intelligence service estimated last year that North Korea sent about 15,000 troops to support Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine. Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea was preparing to send more troops to Russia. But in her Wednesday statement, Kim Yo Jong flatly denied that, calling it \u201can ungrounded farce.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Korean President Lee Jae Myung hailed Trump\u2019s decision, saying in his X message Wednesday that he hopes it would lead to reopening dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ap.org\/news-highlights\/spotlights\/2025\/outspoken-liberal-leader-lee-elected-south-koreas-president-closing-period-of-political-tumult\/\">Lee<\/a> is a liberal who wants better ties with North Korea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Korea\u2019s main opposition conservative party earlier accused Lee\u2019s government of prioritizing the resumption of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-north-korea-kim-apec-a4e1a588eb1786250beac5a5e4e876ec\">Kim-Trump diplomacy<\/a> over security concerns caused by Trump\u2019s move.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/4823bd17c1c94869826d8bf2a2825896\">Trump and Kim<\/a> met three times from 2018-2019 but their high-stakes diplomacy eventually fell apart over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/summits-diplomacy-hanoi-politics-asia-pacific-b8ce3d0483d84348ba3d952e1300f4e1\">wrangling<\/a> over a North Korean demand for extensive sanctions relief in return for limited denuclearization steps.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-trump-s-move-may-focus-on-south-korea-over-iran\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trump\u2019s move may focus on South Korea over Iran<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his social media post, Trump said the drills are not only costly but \u201csend a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile\u201d to North Korea, which he said \u201chas been unthreatening and respectful\u201d during his time in the White House. Trump said he asked Lee if South Korea would join the U.S. in the \u201cdenuclearization\u201d of Iran, \u201cand they said, \u2018No thanks!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At separate parliamentary hearings Wednesday, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said neither South Korean nor U.S. officials were informed of Trump\u2019s move before his social media post. Cho said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-lee-south-korea-us-exercises-kim-81402c3384a98f053c1b761c87081391\">the alliance<\/a> remains strong, while Ahn said South Korean and U.S. defense officials were maintaining close consultations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4692672\/kim-jong-un-sister-completely-unaware-communications-trump\/\"><strong>KIM JONG UN\u2019S SISTER \u2018COMPLETELY UNAWARE\u2019 OF COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN NORTH KOREA AND TRUMP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some experts say Trump\u2019s cut of the drills was more likely designed to apply pressure on South Korea to give him substantial support over the Iran war than to reach out to North Korea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTrump\u2019s message is that if you don\u2019t cooperate with us on Iran, we\u2019re not cooperating with you\u201d on the drills either, said Yang Uk, an analyst at Seoul\u2019s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. \u201cIt\u2019s like he\u2019s asking South Korea to show it\u2019s helping him over Iran\u201d by taking steps like sending warships or reinforcing missile defenses in some areas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Korean officials said South Korea and the U.S. are closely discussing practical and military contributions that South Korea can make to help restore freedom of navigation in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-uae-us-strait-hormuz-august-14-2026-e8565c608ac5283ec8103c85df924b13\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It wasn\u2019t the first time that the U.S. and South Korea have scaled back or canceled their drills.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2018, Trump abruptly announced the cancellation of a major war game with South Korea, after his first summit with Kim. The U.S. and South Korea have since canceled or <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/seoul-diplomacy-south-korea-north-korea-coronavirus-pandemic-5c71968ba53f66ad6c12a7189c184673\">reduced other joint drills<\/a> to support diplomacy with North Korea and cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North Korea dismisses US-South drills as provocative, hindering diplomacy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2634,"featured_media":2647192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ulchi-Freedom-Shield.jpeg?w=599","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[69709,32109,3634],"class_list":["post-2647191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-military-drills","tag-north-korea","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ulchi-Freedom-Shield.jpeg?w=599","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2634"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2647191"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2647195,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647191\/revisions\/2647195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2647192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2647191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2647191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2647191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}