Multiple sources confirm that the US-South Korea joint military exercises, Ulchi Freedom Shield, have been shortened and some parts canceled, with officials learning about the reduction from Trump's social media.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun suggests that Trump's order to scale back military drills is partly aimed at pressuring Seoul to support US efforts in the Iran war and other unresolved issues like investment.

An anti-terror drill was held in Seoul as part of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, focusing on civil defense and emergency management.

Scaling back US-South Korea drills may not succeed in swaying Kim Jong Un away from his relationships with China and Russia, as Pyongyang remains defiant.