President Lee Pays Tribute to Trump's Decision to Scale Down Joint Drills... Vows to Be a Pacemaker

"Creating Conditions for Dialogue Even Through Reduction of Exercises"

"Expecting Trust-Building and Resumption of North Korea-U.S. Dialogue"

South Korea Reaffirms Commitment to Free Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

"Looking Forward

President Lee Jae-myung expressed his respect for U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to significantly reduce the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises and field maneuver drills, stating, "I share the will and efforts to create conditions for dialogue for building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula and pay my respects to this decision." He went on to say that, in order to build trust and reopen dialogue between North Korea and the United States, "I will do my utmost to fulfill the role of a pacemaker that facilitates and contributes to President Trump's peacemaking activities."

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the 1st Eulji National Security Council meeting held at the Blue House on the 18th. August 18, 2026 [Photo by Cheongwadae Press Photographers Group] Yonhap News

On the 19th, President Lee stated on his X (formerly Twitter) account, "I have seen well President Trump's recent social media messages and photos," announcing his public support for President Trump’s decision to reduce joint drills with South Korea in consideration of resuming dialogue with North Korea.

President Lee also recalled his first meeting with President Trump at the White House last year. He said, "I remember asking President Trump to play a peacemaker role for the peace of the Korean Peninsula, the world's only divided nation," adding, "At the G7 and NATO summits, we also had serious discussions with President Trump about restoring peace and resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula."

He added, "This message from President Trump seems like a major decision made after much deliberation to go beyond hostility and confrontation and create peace on the Korean Peninsula."

In particular, President Lee explicitly agreed with President Trump's view that South Korea should take a more leading and responsible role in defending the Korean Peninsula.

President Lee said, "The Republic of Korea, which spends defense expenditures equivalent to 1.4 times North Korea's annual GDP and is ranked fifth in the world in military strength, is rapidly increasing its defense budget to achieve 3.5% of GDP in accordance with the agreement between South Korea and the U.S., so we are developing sufficient capacity to take responsibility for the defense of the Korean Peninsula," emphasizing, "I fully agree with President Trump's intention that South Korea must take responsibility for the security of the Korean Peninsula itself."

He also emphasized that the reduction of joint drills should not be seen as weakening the defense posture of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, but as expanding diplomatic space for U.S.-North Korea dialogue. President Lee said, "I believe that a peace regime which makes wars unnecessary is the most perfect security asset of all. Even by reducing the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises and field maneuver drills this time, I empathize with President Trump’s will and effort to create the conditions for dialogue for building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."

In response to a U.S. proposal, South Korea and the United States shortened the "Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)" exercise period, originally scheduled for 11 days from the 17th to the 27th, down to 5 days, ending on the 21st, and agreed to reduce some of the combined field maneuver drills. President Trump had previously mentioned his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and ordered the U.S. Department of Defense to significantly reduce participation in joint drills with South Korea.

President Lee also clearly stated his hope that this move would lead to a resumption of direct diplomacy between North Korea and the United States. He said, "I hope that President Trump's decision will lead to the establishment of a stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, after building trust and resuming dialogue between North Korea and the United States." He reiterated, "As I have stated repeatedly, I will do my utmost to fulfill the role of a pacemaker that facilitates and contributes to President Trump's peacemaking activities."

President Trump, for his part, has also kept open the possibility of a new summit between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea. On the 19th (local time), when asked by reporters if he would meet Kim Jong Un this year, he replied in a way that indicated that he would. Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, drew a line by saying the reduction in joint drills did not "change the provocative and aggressive nature of the exercises," but said through the Korean Central News Agency that the relationship between Chairman Kim and President Trump remains "excellent."

President Lee reaffirmed South Korea’s intention to contribute to issues regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which President Trump also raised alongside the message on reducing joint drills. President Lee said, "The government of the Republic of Korea has already expressed on several occasions its intention to actively participate in the efforts of the international community—including the United States—to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," adding, "Within the scope allowed by Korean law and basic policies, we will continue to closely communicate with the U.S. side, as we have done so far, regarding various practical contribution measures."

Previously, President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction over South Korea’s passive response to U.S. military requests regarding the issue with Iran when announcing the reduction of joint drills. The Korean government has stated that it is discussing practical and military measures for restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz with the United States. President Lee concluded, "I look forward to a reunion with the respected President Trump in the United States in the near future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.