South Korea President Says Country Must Prepare For ‘Worst-Case Scenario’ After Trump Cuts Joint Drills

The president of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, said Tuesday that while maintaining peace remains their number one priority as President Donald Trump orders the reduction of American troops’ in joint exercises, the country must prepare for a “worst-case scenario.”

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Jae-myung told the country’s National Security Council to review the nation’s ability to wage total war so that it could prepare, according to a briefing by the office. (RELATED: Prime Minister Mad States Aren’t Forking Over Guns Like He Wants)

He also urged that defensive and total national mobilization exercises be conducted, emphasizing that their goal is to defend the safety of South Koreans and that they have “no intention of attacking North Korea or escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.”

“Above all, the most important thing is to create a peace where there is no need to fight, but to maintain that peace, we must thoroughly prepare even for the worst-case scenarios,” Jae-myung said.

However, a Friday statement from North Korea’s Foreign Ministry described the upcoming joint exercise as having the goal of “[completing] preparations for the substantial military confrontation with [North Korea].”

Citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, Trump said Sunday that he was not happy past U.S. leaders agreed to participate in military exercises with South Korea, as he thought it was costly and signaled hostility to North Korea.

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He then ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises” while noting the decision came after Jae-myung had declined Trump’s request to aid the U.S. in its “denuclearization” of Iran.

In 2018, Trump suspended exercises in South Korea to aid negotiations with North Korea.

South Korea’s hesitancy to fulfill a $350 billion investment pledge may be one of Trump’s reasons to minimize U.S. aid in the country, sources familiar told Politico.

U.S. Forces Korea consists of approximately 28,500 personnel, with U.S. personnel expected to remain stationed in the country as involvement is limited in the joint exercise.

Meanwhile, 18,000 members of the South Korean military are expected to participate in the military exercises that began Monday and end Aug. 27, CNBC reported.

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