U.S.-South Korea military drill wraps up early, a day after North Korea's missile barrage

President Donald Trump had earlier abruptly ordered the Pentagon to "substantially reduce" the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise just before it began Monday. Trump cited what he described as a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea's refusal to support him over the war in Iran.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries wrapped up their annual drill six days earlier than initially scheduled on Friday in a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea, though the North said the step isn’t enough to persuade it to return to talks.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries have wrapped up their annual drill six days earlier than initially scheduled in a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea

US, South Korean militaries wrap up drill early, a day after North Korea’s missile barrage  AP News

The U.S. and South Korean militaries are wrapping their annual drills six days earlier than initially scheduled in a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea

August 20, 2026 4:29 PM ET North Korea fired roughly ten short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters Thursday, days after President Donald Trump ordered the United States to scale back a major military exercise with South Korea.The missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area at about 5 p.m. local time a