A Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee publicly questioned President Donald Trump's decision to curtail joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the United States should demonstrate greater allegiance to the longtime Asian ally.
Republican lawmaker questions Trump's decision to cut South Korea military drills short
A Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee publicly questioned President Donald Trump's decision to curtail joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the United States should demonstrate greater allegiance to the longtime Asian ally.
Trump announced on Aug. 16 that the joint drills were an 'inappropriate and hostile' signal to North Korea, citing his 'very good relationship' with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a social media post ordering a reduction of such exercises. He also reportedly suggested frustration that South Korea had declined to assist with what the source describes as 'the Iran war he started in February.'
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff subsequently said the two allies agreed to conclude the joint exercises on Aug. 21, six days earlier than originally scheduled.
North Korea dismissed the decision as immaterial and launched a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles on Aug. 20 in a show of force.
Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia, a US combat veteran who said he spent time with South Korean troops during foreign tours, made his remarks on Bloomberg This Weekend on Aug. 22. He said integration with foreign allies is 'very good for our force projection' and described South Korea as sharing a similar worldview, with 'one enemy, one fight.'
- The source does not state the original end date of the joint military exercises before they were curtailed.
- The source does not specify the nature or scale of the 'Iran war' referenced, beyond attributing its start to Trump in February.
- The source does not state whether the White House or any Trump administration official responded to McCormick's remarks.
- The source does not describe how South Korea's government officially responded to Trump's stated frustration over Iran.
- The source does not detail what specific exercises were included in or excluded from the curtailed drills.
Read the original at The Straits Times