Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea

President Trump explained the decision by saying South Korea had declined to help with the "denuclearization" of Iran and he cited his good relationship with North Korea's leader.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7269x4858+0+0/resize/7269x4858!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F67%2F19%2F6160c4e9465faf5b3cc8cf1de9d5%2Fap26228725686076.jpg' alt='President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Morristown, N.J.'/><p>President Trump explained the decision by saying South Korea had declined to help with the "denuclearization" of Iran and he cited his good relationship with North Korea's leader.</p><p>(Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-138969' />