[Key Points] Lee backs Trump’s North Korea outreach, supports scaling back drills

Lee backs outreach: President Lee Jae Myung endorsed Trump’s renewed push to engage North Korea, casting Seoul as a “pacemaker” that can help sustain Washington-Pyongyang diplomacy. Drills cut back: Lee supported scaling back Korea-US exercises to create room for dialogue; the 2026 Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise was shortened by six days and associated field training was reduced. Defense still strengthened: Seoul paired its diplomatic support with a pledge to bolster self-defense, including movin