South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged his nation to boost its independent military capabilities Tuesday after President Donald Trump ordered a cut to join U.S.-South Korean military exercises.Lee made the statement during a meeting with his cabinet on Tuesday, a day after the annual joint Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises began.Trump announced on social media this weekend that he ordered War Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" U.S.
involvement in the drills.Trump's statement expressed concern that the drills presented an overly hostile tone toward North Korea, whose leader, Kim Jong Un, Trump spoke of with warm words.TRUMP ORDERS MAJOR CUT TO US-SOUTH KOREA DRILLS AS NORTH KOREA RAMPS UP MISSILE TESTSU.S.soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division participate in a river crossing exercise as part of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise on Aug.
27, 2025, in Yeoju-gun, South Korea.The 11-day exercise is a regular joint military exercise between U.S.
and South Korean troops to prepare for potential emergencies on the Korean Peninsula.(Getty Images)Lee emphasized in his cabinet meeting that Ulchi Freedom Shield is a purely defensive exercise."A strong alliance makes the foundation of security stronger, and strengthening our own capabilities increases our value and necessity as an ally," Lee said.He stated that South Korea's top priority is maintaining peace with North Korea, but said the country must be prepared for a "worst-case scenario."Lee specifically mentioned boosting South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine program, among others.NORTH KOREA LAUNCHES ANOTHER BALLISTIC MISSILE AS US, SOUTH KOREA PREPARE FOR MILITARY DRILLSNorth Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump shake hands during a meeting on the south side of the Military Demarcation Line that divides North and South Korea, in the Joint Security Area (JSA) of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) on June 30, 2019.
(Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)Trump's statement on Mond...