The United States has canceled a planned amphibious landing drill with South Korea, citing force constraints tied to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, normally lasting 11 days, was cut to 5 days, with the second phase focused on counterattack scenarios canceled entirely. President Trump explicitly linked the decision to South Korea’s refusal to join US efforts on Iran’s denuclearization. The reduction also comes in the context of Trump’s ongoing diplomatic relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Japan, which hosts roughly 54,000 US military personnel, is watching the situation closely.
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