The US and South Korean militaries wrapped up their annual drill six days earlier than initially scheduled on Friday in a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea, though the North said the step isn’t enough to persuade it to return to talks.
US President Donald Trump had earlier abruptly ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise just before it began Monday.
Trump cited what he described as a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to support him over the war in Iran.South Korea’s military said the Ulchi Freedom Shield, a command post exercise with the US, ended on Friday.
This month’s exercise was initially reportedly scheduled to be held in two phases for 11 days in simulation of North Korean attacks — the first part until Friday on defensive operations and the second part until Aug. 27 on counteroffensive operations.
North Korea is extremely sensitive to the second phase.South Korea and the US had also planned to hold 14 joint field training exercises during the Ulchi Freedom Shield period.
But they’ve agreed to halve them as well, according to South Korea’s military.
