The U.S. Department of Defense on the 18th (local time) officially announced that, under President Donald Trump's direction, it has drastically scaled back the joint South Korea-U.S. exercise "Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)," including shortening its duration.

Equipment is moored at Camp Humphreys, the U.S. Forces Korea base in Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on the 19th. /Courtesy of News1

The U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement that day that, under the direction of President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, "the Department of Defense continues exercises that strengthen tactical capabilities but has drastically scaled back UFS," conveying the same details.

This follows President Trump's order to Hegseth on the 16th to drastically scale back the joint South Korea-U.S. exercises. The UFS drill is a regular combined exercise for the defense of the Korean Peninsula in contingencies and was initially scheduled to run from the 17th to the 27th. With this measure, it was moved up by a week from the scheduled dates.

The U.S. Department of Defense explained, "Related maneuver drills have been reduced, and some exercises have been canceled or shifted to simulations." It added, "Despite this adjustment, essential readiness and training objectives are maintained," and emphasized, "There will be no disruption to the U.S. military's training objectives."

Meanwhile, Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) also issued a press release that day, announcing at the same time that, in line with a U.S. proposal, it decided to adjust aspects such as the duration and scale of the drill.

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