Alarm in South Korea as Iran dispute with Trump threatens long-standing alliance

US President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to significantly reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing concerns over their impact on relations with North Korea. The announcement, made via social media just hours before the drills were set to begin, has caused alarm among South Korean officials, who were unaware of the decision in advance. The exercises will now be shortened from 11 days to five, intensifying discussions in South Korea about its security reliance on the US and its stance on the US-Israel conflict in Iran.

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