U.S. president cites good relationship with Kim Jong Un
Annual military manoeuvres between South Korea and the United States are underway.
But just hours before they were due to start, the US president announced that he had ordered the Pentagon to substantially scale back the exercises.
Donald Trump says they send an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea and its leader, with whom he has a ‘good relationship’.
The joint drills have been held for decades.
So, does Trump’s last-minute decision mean he’s seeking talks with Kim Jong Un?
Could dialogue end one of the world’s longest-running conflicts?
Presenter: Anna Burns-Francis
Guests:
In Bum Chun – Retired South Korean Lieutenant General and military and security analyst
Jenny Town – Senior Fellow and Director of 38 North programme at the Stimson Center
Rodger Baker — Geopolitical analyst at RANE, a global centre for geopolitical intelligence and analysis
Published On 17 Aug 2026