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South Korea’s President Uneasy After Joint Drills

Updated 2026-08-19 05:55 UTC 1 source Neutral

President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea has expressed unease after US President Donald Trump cut joint military drills. The move, aimed at boosting homegrown defense capabilities, has alarmed some in Seoul.

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The Guardian

In cutting joint drills, Trump has given South Korea’s president what he wants. So why does Seoul look so uneasy?

President Lee Jae Myung has long pushed for stronger homegrown defences, yet Donald Trump’s move has sparked alarm in some quartersAt their first summit, in August last year, South Korean president Lee Jae Myung told Donald Trump:

2026-08-19 05:40 UTC