Trump is signalling reduced military engagement with South Korea because South Korea showed no interest in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump reminds South Korea that it has a neighbour to the north that possesses nuclear weapons. It might therefore be wise to consider both its own interests and those of the world. Trump wants to be on good terms with North Korea and is scaling back military activity with South Korea.

He writes this on Truth Social.

In light of my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea, I am not happy that the United States agreed long ago to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea. These exercises are not only costly – and, as usual, it is the United States that pays most of the bill! – but they also send a signal that is entirely inappropriate and hostile towards a country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has behaved in a non-threatening and respectful manner. Therefore, and considering that it is too late to cancel them, I have instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce the joint military exercises! Although it may have nothing to do with the matter (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea whether they wished to join us in the effort to denuclearise the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they replied: ‘No thanks!’ Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Turning one’s back on Trump is not taken kindly. Britain, France, Spain and Italy have already had occasion to discover that.