{"id":2768,"date":"2026-08-21T05:08:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T05:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2768"},"modified":"2026-08-21T05:08:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T05:08:33","slug":"us-south-korean-militaries-wrapping-up-drills-early-a-day-after-north-koreas-missile-barrage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2768","title":{"rendered":"US, South Korean militaries wrapping up drills early, a day after North Korea\u2019s missile barrage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) \u2014 The U.S. and South Korean militaries were wrapping up their annual drills<\/span> six days earlier than initially scheduled on Friday in a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea, though the North said the step isn\u2019t enough to convince it to return to talks.<\/p>\n

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U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier abruptly ordered the Pentagon to \u201csubstantially reduce\u201d<\/span> the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises just before they began Monday. Trump cited what he described as a good relationship<\/span> with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea\u2019s refusal to support him over the war in Iran.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kim Yo Jong,<\/span> the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, brushed aside<\/span> Trump\u2019s overture on Wednesday, saying \u201cthe provocative, aggressive nature of the drills\u201d won\u2019t change only with the reduction of their duration and size. <\/p>\n

The next day, North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles<\/span> toward the sea, apparently following through with its previous threat to respond to the U.S.-South Korean drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal. <\/p>\n

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The U.S. Pacific Command said the events didn\u2019t pose an immediate threat to U.S. territory or its allies. The command said the U.S. remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and its allies in the region.<\/p>\n

Kim Yo Jong\u2019s statement dampened hopes for an early resumption of talks<\/span> between Trump and Kim Jong Un, whose earlier nuclear diplomacy collapsed<\/span> in 2019. Kim Jong Un has used the diplomatic stalemate to increase his leverage by modernizing his nuclear and missile programs and aligning with Russia<\/span> over its war against Ukraine. Kim Jong Un suggested last year that he won\u2019t return to talks unless the U.S. drops its demand for North Korean denuclearization as a precondition<\/span> for diplomacy.<\/p>\n

Kim Yo Jong still used relatively measured language, avoided typical harsh North Korean rhetoric and touched upon what she called an \u201cexcellent\u201d relationship between her brother and Trump. This suggests North Korea doesn\u2019t want to completely shut the door for future talks and may seek to win bigger U.S. concessions, such as international recognition as a nuclear state and broad sanctions relief. <\/p>\n

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With its supply of ammunition and troops to Russia, North Korea is likely receiving economic and military assistance in return, and its expanding ties with Russia<\/span> provides it with leverage to ask for greater support from China, its biggest trading partner. <\/p>\n

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\u201cAfter this strategic play has run its course, Kim may seek further economic and reputational benefits from Washington,\u201d said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. \u201cBut that will probably be after the U.S. midterm elections when Trump is expected to be in a weaker domestic political position and in search of headline-grabbing foreign policies.\u201d<\/p>\n

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