U.S. To Replace Large-Scale Military Drills With South Korea With Smaller Ones

The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. Picture taken on August 23, 2016. Courtesy Ken Scar/U.S. Army/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

NBC: U.S. to end large-scale military drills with South Korea

The move is part of the Trump administration's effort to ease tensions with North Korea, U.S. officials said.

The U.S. military is preparing to announce that annual large-scale joint exercises conducted with South Korea every spring will no longer be held, according to two U.S. defense officials.

The major U.S.-South Korea exercises are being curtailed as part of the Trump administration's effort to ease tensions with North Korea, the officials said. The exercises — known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle — will be replaced with smaller, mission-specific training, according to the officials.

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained about the large-scale exercises, saying they're too costly and the U.S. bears too much of the financial burden.

The military has carried out the major exercises as much for deterring the North Korean regime as maintaining troop readiness, according to senior defense officials.

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WNU Editor: President Trump has been a critic of these drills for a long time .... Trump: Playing war games with South Korea is ‘fun’ but too expensive (Washington Examiner).