Behind Trump’s surprise order to cut short U.S.-South Korea drills, irritation over trade

NBC News Clone summarizes the latest on: South Korea Military Drills Trump Trade Kim Jong Un Investment Us Rcna593070 - World News | NBC News Clone. This article is rewritten and presented in a simplified tone for a better reader experience.

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.

U.S. Army soldiers cross a pontoon bridge on the Imjin River

U.S. Army soldiers crossing a pontoon bridge on the Imjin River during a joint military exercise in Yeoncheon, South Korea, in 2025. Kim Jae-Hwan / SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Aug. 19, 2026, 12:40 PM EDT

By Jennifer Jett, Stella Kim, Dan De Luce and Peter Nicholas

President Donald Trump gave a lot of reasons for his sudden order this week to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea: their cost, anger at Seoul for staying out of the Iran war, and his “very good” relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who detests the drills.

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