South Korea president calls for military independence in wake of Trump call to cut joint drills

South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, has renewed his push to regain independent control of the military from the US in the event of war. This comes after US President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing North Korea’s perceived lack of threat and a positive relationship with Kim Jong-un. Lee stated that strengthening South Korea’s own defense capabilities would reinforce its value as an ally in the US-South Korea alliance. The issue stems from the Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty in 1953, leaving the two Koreas technically at war. US troops have been stationed in South Korea since, including Camp Humphreys, the largest American military base outside the US. Wartime operational control (Opcon) of South Korean forces has historically been held by a US four-star general, but Lee aims to accelerate the transfer of this authority during his term—a goal he has long pursued. Lee also called for faster progress in South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program and the development of officers capable of integrated operations for future conflicts. The renewed push follows Trump’s decision to cut this week’s joint drills, named Ulchi Freedom Shield, which were expected to involve 18,000 South Korean troops alongside US forces and personnel from UN Command member states. Trump’s order came amid reports that North Korea has adapted military tactics from its involvement in the Ukraine war, including lessons learned from drone use. The US and South Korea have adjusted their exercises to account for these evolving threats. Seoul’s presidential office clarified that the drills were not intended to attack North Korea but to safeguard daily life in South Korea. Previous US suspensions of joint drills, such as after Trump’s 2018 summit with Kim Jong-un, led to cancellations or scaled-back exercises. However, this year’s drills were redesigned and resumed with modified names. Trump’s statements about Kim’s regime’s respect and reduced tensions were met with skepticism, as military officials warned that North Korea’s tactics were evolving rapidly due to its involvement in the Ukraine conflict.