NewsABC Action News (WFTS) — NewsAugust 20, 2026Hillsborough
President Trump plans meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un and orders reduction of joint military exercises with South Korea
President Trump announced plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year and directed the U.S. military to scale back joint exercises with South Korea. The President cited the cost of the exercises and his personal relationship with Kim as primary reasons for the shift in military posture.
Read the full story at ABC Action News (WFTS) — NewsWhy It Matters
The decision to reduce with South Korea alters long-standing defense cooperation protocols and impacts regional security dynamics in the Korean Peninsula.
Key Facts
- President Trump announced plans to meet with Kim Jong Un later this year.
- President Trump directed the U.S. military to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea.
- The directive to scale back exercises was issued on Monday.
- South Korean officials stated they were not notified in advance of the decision to scale back exercises.
- President Trump cited the financial cost of the exercises as a reason for the reduction.
- President Trump characterized the exercises as 'inappropriate and hostile' toward North Korea.
- President Trump claimed North Korea has 57 nuclear weapons.
Who's Mentioned
personKim Jong Un“Leader of North Korea”personDonald Trump“President of the United States”other57“Number of nuclear weapons attributed to North Korea”locationSouth Korea“Ally involved in joint military exercises”personCho Hyun“South Korean foreign minister”locationUnited States“Country funding military exercises”