World news | The Guardian
· collected 2026-08-18 · by Raphael Rashid in Seoul and agencies
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung has renewed his call for independent control of the military from the US, citing Donald Trump's decision to cut joint drills as a reason to accelerate this process. Lee wants to transfer wartime operational control (Opcon) from the US to South Korea, a goal that has been delayed for over two decades. This week's joint exercises with the US were expected to involve 18,000 South Korean troops, but Trump has ordered a significant reduction in drills. The push for Opcon is motivated by Lee's desire to increase South Korea's value and necessity as an ally to the US.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he would be scaling back US military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good" relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and claiming that the exercises were expensive. The annual drills, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, were originally scheduled to run from August 13-27, but have been reduced in scope and scale at the direction of Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The decision has caused alarm among South Koreans, who rely heavily on the US for their security, as well as other US allies in the region. North Korea has been threatening a "new level" of nuclear deterrence in response to the planned drills, which Pyongyang state media called "a rehearsal for an invasion war."
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who had previously floated the idea of reducing joint military exercises with the US as a tool for drawing North Korea back to the table, has renewed his calls for wartime operational control of the military and progress on South Korea's nuclear submarine programme.
The decision to cut short the drills marks a significant shift in Trump's approach to North Korea, which he had previously criticized for its missile tests and threats. Trump added that US involvement in the exercises would send a "signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile" to North Korea, which he said has been "unthreatening and respectful" to his presidency.
The move has also sparked concerns among analysts and US senators about Trump's willingness to prioritize North Korean denuclearization over South Korea's security. Some have criticized Trump's approach as naive, citing the recent spate of North Korean missile tests and threats.
Written for “US-South Korea Military Tensions” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 21 other(s) covering the same event.
South Korea’s president has renewed his push to regain independent control of the military from the US in the event of war and urged faster progress in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines after Donald Trump’s order to cut joint drills.
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president → renew → drills
On Sunday night, Trump instructed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” this week’s joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the nuclear-armed North “has been unthreatening and respectful” and that the US president had a “very good relationship with Kim Jong-un”.
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president → instruct → un
Lee Jae Myung said on Tuesday that Seoul should proceed without disruption with the planned transfer, during his term, of wartime operational control, or Opcon, of South Korean forces from the US – a goal he and the government have long held.
“A strong alliance makes the foundation of security stronger, and strengthening our own capabilities increases our value and necessity as an ally,” Lee said in a cabinet meeting, describing the US-South Korea alliance and independent defence as mutually reinforcing.
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Lee → say → alliance
The issue dates back to the Korean war, which ended in an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty in 1953, meaning the two Koreas remain technically at war.
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Koreas → date → war
US troops have been stationed in South Korea ever since, and the country now hosts Camp Humphreys, the largest American military base outside the US.
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country → station → US
The two militaries train and operate together closely, including through large-scale annual exercises such as this week’s.
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militaries → train → week
Wartime Opcon, the authority to direct South Korean forces if fighting resumes, has rested with the US since the war began, exercised through the head of the allies’ Combined Forces Command, a position that has always been held by an American four-star general.
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that → direct → general
Seoul regained peacetime control of its own military in 1994, but the wartime authority has become a potent symbol of national sovereignty, and reclaiming it has been one of South Korea’s foremost security goals for more than two decades, repeatedly delayed under successive governments.
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reclaiming → regain → governments
This week’s now-curtailed drills were meant to help certify South Korea’s readiness to finally take it over, a process Lee has pushed to accelerate since taking office.
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Lee → curtail → office
Lee also called for faster progress on South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine programme and on developing officers capable of integrated operations for future conflicts.
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Lee → call → conflicts
The renewed push follows Trump’s call to make cuts to the planned 10 days of drills that started on Monday under the name Ulchi Freedom Shield, one of two main annual exercises held by South Korea and the US.
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that → renew → Korea
They were expected to involve about 18,000 South Korean troops, alongside US forces and personnel from 11 of the 18 member states of the United Nations Command (UNC), the multinational body that oversees the 1953 armistice that halted hostilities of the Korean war.
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that → expect → war
During questioning in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump claimed North Korean leader Kim had responded to his order to the Pentagon but did not provide details.
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Kim → claim → details
When asked what stage the conversations with Kim were at, Trump said “it’s very positive” but provided no further detail.
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it → ask → detail
Trump doubled down on his praise for Kim, saying their ties had reduced tensions.
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ties → double → tensions
“You see, I’m actually making it much safer.
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it → see → ?
Kim Jong-un has always treated me with great respect,” he said.
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he → treat → respect
“I understand him.
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I → understand → him
He understands me.”
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He → understand → me
Trump has previously suspended major US-South Korean military exercises in pursuit of diplomacy with Kim.
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Trump → suspend → Kim
After his first summit with the North Korean leader in 2018, that year’s Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise was cancelled, while other drills were suspended or scaled back.
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drills → cancel → 2018
The exercises were redesigned and resumed in modified form with changed names.
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exercises → redesign → names
The US president acted despite warnings from US and South Korean military officials that Kim’s regime is learning new battlefield tactics from sending North Korean troops to the Ukraine war.
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regime → act → war
Last week, South Korean and US military officials said Ulchi Freedom Shield drills would incorporate aspects such as the North Koreans’ experience with drones on the battlefield.
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drills → say → battlefield
North Korea has deepened military ties with Russia since they signed a comprehensive strategic partnership pact in June 2024.
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they → deepen → June
Pyongyang is providing troops, artillery ammunition and ballistic missiles to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
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Pyongyang → provide → Ukraine
“They’ve taken those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea, that changes the DPRK capability,” said Col Ryan Donald, the public affairs director for the US-led commands in South Korea.
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Donald → take → Korea
“Our training accounts for that threat, that is why the exercise looks different [from previous exercises], and over the last five years it’s continually evolved.”
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it → account → years
On Tuesday, Seoul’s presidential office said the drills did not reflect “any intention to attack North Korea or escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula”.
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drills → say → peninsula
Lee’s office reiterated that their fundamental purpose was “not to treat a specific entity as an adversary, but to safeguard the safe and peaceful daily lives of the people”.
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purpose → reiterate → people
