Seoul, Washington to halve joint drills as Trump reportedly seeks summit with North Korea's Kim

TL;DR

South Korea's military will reduce its annual joint military exercise with the U.S. by about half.
The decision was reportedly influenced by President Trump's push for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as soon as this fall.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise period will be shortened from its original conclusion date.
Some combined field training exercises will also be scaled back, with details still being discussed.
This development follows Trump's order to significantly reduce the joint military drills.
Analysts suggest allies may respond by bolstering their own military capacity and forming new partnerships.
A reduced U.S. footprint in Asia could offer benefits to Washington, such as lower defense burdens and reduced risk of major war.

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