S. Korea stresses US alliance amid confusion over Trump drill cut

Lee's comments Tuesday come as many South Koreans remain baffled and concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump's abrupt order to "substantially reduce" military exercises with South Korea.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3093x2128+0+0/resize/3093x2128!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3d%2F09%2F3b50633a46d5903c3cc70220bcd1%2Fap26230133133563.jpg' alt='South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, center, speaks during a cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.'/><p>Lee's comments Tuesday come as many South Koreans remain baffled and concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump's abrupt order to "substantially reduce" military exercises with South Korea.</p><p>(Image credit: Yonhap)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-139096' />