US cancels joint military exercises with South Korea citing Iran war constraints

Aug 24, 2026

The United States has canceled the Ssangyong joint amphibious landing drill with South Korea, scheduled for September 2026, citing force constraints stemming from the war in Iran. This marks the first major cut to Asia-Pacific training due to the Middle East conflict. Additionally, President Donald Trump scaled back the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, criticizing their cost and Seoul's refusal to join the Iran war. In response, North Korea fired 10 short-range ballistic missiles, denouncing the drills as invasion rehearsals.

Ssangyong amphibious drill cancellation

▪The United States canceled a joint division-level amphibious landing drill, known as Ssangyong, scheduled for September 2026 with South Korea.
▪The United States Marine Corps formally notified the South Korean Marine Corps in June 2026 that force availability would be constrained for the Ssangyong exercise.

Iran war force constraints

▪The United States military canceled the Ssangyong amphibious landing exercise with South Korea due to force shortages and deployments related to the United States war against Iran.
▪The cancellation of the Ssangyong exercise represents the first apparent confirmation of a major cut to scheduled United States military training in the Asia-Pacific region due to the war against Iran.

Trump cost criticism

▪United States President Donald Trump criticized the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises on Truth Social, calling them inappropriate, hostile, and costly.
▪United States President Donald Trump cited South Korea's refusal to participate in the war against Iran as a reason for scaling back the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises.
▪United States President Donald Trump ordered the scaling back of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercise with South Korea, which ended on August 21, 2026.

Rubio-Cho alliance coordination

▪United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on August 24, 2026, regarding a range of issues in their alliance.
▪United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio told South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun that Washington and Seoul must maintain close coordination on matters integral to their alliance.

North Korea ballistic missile launches

▪North Korea fired 10 short-range ballistic missiles during the week of August 17, 2026, despite the reduction of joint United States-South Korea military exercises.
▪North Korea issued an official statement denouncing the joint United States-South Korea military exercises as rehearsals for an invasion.