The U.S. Marine Corps notified South Korea in June that it would cancel the annual Ssangyong joint amphibious landing exercise, scheduled for September, due to personnel constraints stemming from the conflict in Iran. The decision follows President Donald Trump’s surprise order to reduce the scope of the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military drills, which concluded on August 22.
The scaled-back Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, held annually, ended on the Friday prior to the announcement. North Korea launched 10 short-range ballistic missiles the previous week, according to reports, and reiterated its customary condemnation of the drills as rehearsals for invasion.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the matter with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, emphasizing the need for "close coordination on issues essential to the alliance," according to a State Department readout. Trump framed the Ulchi Freedom Shield reduction as a response to what he described as Seoul’s non-threatening posture under his administration, arguing the drills sent an "inappropriate and hostile signal" to a country he said had proven cooperative.
The cancellation of Ssangyong marks a shift in military engagement amid broader regional tensions, with past amphibious exercises taking place in Pohang, South Korea, as recently as September 2, 2024. The move reflects operational adjustments tied to Washington’s force commitments in the Middle East.
