US scales back military drills with South Korea, allies concerned

The United States has ordered a reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea, a move that has raised concerns among Asian allies about US resolve in the region. South Korean officials have defended the maneuvers, stating there is no intention to attack North Korea, while President Moon Jae-in affirmed Seoul's ability to defend itself. The USFK commander visited the South Korean defense ministry to discuss the scaled-back drills, which media reports link to economic issues and the Trump administration's focus on Iran. Asian allies have stressed that cooperation with South Korea remains 'critical' despite the changes.