ISTANBUL
The US has canceled a joint amphibious landing drill with South Korea scheduled for September as the Pentagon mobilizes military assets and troops to the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
South Korean and US military officials confirmed the cancellation of the Ssangyong exercise, according to The Chosun Daily.
According to US President Donald Trump, the Pentagon has 39,000 troops on the Korean Peninsula under a defense pact with Seoul.
South Korea is now planning to hold its own drill. When conducted jointly with the US, the exercise normally involves between 10,000 and 20,000 personnel, amphibious assault ships and advanced stealth aircraft.
Washington “reportedly informed South Korea that it was difficult to mobilize troops for the exercise due to the aftermath of the Iran war,” the report said.
The move follows the early conclusion of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise between the two allies, which was shortened to five days under instructions from Trump as he prioritized outreach to North Korea.
The Pentagon reduced the 11-day UFS exercise to five days, with the drills concluding last Friday.
