In a social media post, Trump said he had ordered the US to "substantially reduce" its involvement, claiming the exercises were "expensive." 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.
Trump's statement seemed to disregard North Korea's recent spate of missile tests, and Pyongyang threatening last Friday a "new level" of nuclear deterrence in response to the planned drills, which North Korean state media called "a rehearsal for an invasion war."