South Korea says US cancelled upcoming joint marine exercises over Iran war
Summary
South Korea announced that the United States has canceled a large joint marine exercise scheduled for next month due to US military forces being tied up because of the US-Israel conflict with Iran. The US and South Korea are still talking about possibly resuming the exercise later.Key Facts
- The canceled exercise is called the Ssangyong drills and happens every two years.
- Ssangyong involves US and South Korean Marines practicing amphibious landings using ships, planes, and ground troops.
- The US Marine Corps told South Korea in June that it could not fully participate this year because of military commitments in the Middle East.
- The US also recently reduced the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint drills with South Korea from 11 days to 5 days.
- President Trump ordered the scaling back of these drills due to the cost and South Korea not joining the war on Iran.
- North Korea opposes these joint exercises and recently fired 10 short-range missiles after the reduced drills.
- President Trump has emphasized building a better relationship with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un.
- South Korea estimates North Korea has 80 to 120 nuclear weapons, while Trump said North Korea has 57.
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