US cancels military exercise with South Korea

The United States canceled the joint amphibious landing exercise planned for September with South Korea. The South Korean Marine Corps announced the cancellation this Monday (24.Aug.2026), after Washington alleged restrictions on the availability of forces due to the war in Iran, according to the Reuters.

The canceled exercise is Ssangyong, a divisional-level maneuver held periodically between the two allied nations. The U.S. Marine Corps formally notified its South Korean counterpart in June that the availability of forces would be compromised to conduct the training.

The 2 allies maintain consultations to resume exercises, according to the South Korean Marine Corps spokesman in an interview with journalists. The spokesperson did not specify what measures could be taken to avoid future cancellations or to compensate for lost training opportunities. U.S. Forces Command in South Korea did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cuts in joint exercises

The cancellation came at the same time as another decision by the US government regarding military exercises on the Korean peninsula. President Donald Trump (Republican Party) surprisingly ordered the reduction of a separate annual exercisethe Ulchi Freedom Shield, closed this Friday (21.Aug.2026). Trump justified the measure by the cost of the exercise and South Korea’s refusal to participate in the war in Iran.

Trump published on its Truth Social platform that the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises sent “a totally inappropriate and hostile signal to a country that, as long as Donald J. Trump is president, has been harmless and respectful”.

North Korea reacted to carrying out the exercises, even with the reduction ordered by Washington. Pyongyang launched 10 short-range ballistic missiles last week and released a statement condemning the training. The North Korean regime has historically classified joint exercises between the US and South Korea as rehearsals for an invasion of the country.