![US President Donald Trump (second from left) and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung [Reuters]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/08/19/rcv.YNA.20260617.PRU20260617443701009_P1.jpg)
The Pentagon announced Tuesday that it has significantly scaled back the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercise with South Korea — including shortening its duration — in accordance with President Donald Trump's orders.
In a statement, the Pentagon said that acting on the direction of Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, "the Department of Defense has significantly reduced Ulchi Freedom Shield while continuing training that enhances tactical capabilities."
As a result of the reductions, the exercise is now set to conclude Friday — a week earlier than originally planned, the Pentagon said.
"Associated maneuver training has been reduced, and some training has been canceled or converted to simulations," the Pentagon said.
Despite the adjustments, the Pentagon stressed that "essential readiness and training objectives are maintained" and that there would be "no disruption to US military training objectives."
The move follows Trump's order to Hegseth on Sunday to "significantly reduce" the joint exercises. Ulchi Freedom Shield is a regular combined exercise designed to prepare for the defense of the Korean Peninsula; it had originally been scheduled to run from Monday through Aug. 27.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff also released a statement Tuesday, announcing that it had agreed to adjust the exercise's duration and scope at the US side's request.
mokiya@heraldcorp.com
