Trump praises North Korea's Kim, cuts South Korea drills after Seoul ‘refused to help with Iran’

Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently praised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un while criticizing South Korea, a key U.S. ally. Trump stated his "very good relationship" with Kim was a reason to reduce joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, calling them costly and hostile. He claimed to have ordered a substantial reduction in these drills, linking this decision to South Korea's refusal to join his Iran policy, stating they said, "No thanks!" when asked to help with Iran's denuclearization. This is the second time Trump has connected South Korea's stance on Iran to reduced military cooperation. While North Korea's Kim Yo Jong argued the U.S. hadn't significantly cut cooperation, South Korea's Defense Ministry confirmed the exercises would proceed as planned. Trump's comments come as he reportedly seeks another meeting with Kim, potentially in November around the APEC summit in China, aiming to revive the personal diplomacy from his first term.