President Donald Trump had earlier abruptly ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise just before it began Monday. Trump cited what he described as a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to support him over the war in Iran.

Experts say there are good reasons South Korea has yet to follow through on $350 billion in U.S. investment it pledged as part of a deal to limit tariffs on its goods.

Annual exercise cut to five days as Pyongyang decries scaled-back drills as provocative