South Korea and the United States were set to end their Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise Friday in South Korea after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered it cut from 11 days to five. Trump said the reduction should avoid sending an inappropriate and hostile message to Pyongyang, and North Korea dismissed the move. The exercise had focused mainly on defensive operations after counterattack drills were canceled.
Soldiers participate in a drill in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, as a part of the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, Friday. Yonhap
South Korea and the United States were set to wrap up their key military exercise Friday, nearly a week ahead of its original schedule after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a significant reduction in a move widely seen as a conciliatory gesture toward North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise has been cut short from 11 days to five, following Trump's directive to scale back drills that he said could send an "inappropriate and hostile" message to Pyongyang. Trump also cited the cost burden and his good relationship with Kim.
The UFS is one of the two major theater-level combined exercises the allies conduct annually to train for contingencies against North Korea.
