US Cancels Joint Naval Drills with South Korea Amid Iran Tensions

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the South Korean Navy announced on Monday that the United States has canceled the amphibious joint military exercises scheduled for September. This cancellation is attributed to restrictions on the availability of American forces amid the war against Iran.

A spokesperson for the South Korean Navy stated during a press conference that the United States officially informed Seoul in June that the number of forces required to conduct the “Sangyeong” exercises at the division level would be limited. Both sides are continuing consultations regarding the potential resumption of the drills, without disclosing specific measures to prevent future cancellations or compensate for lost training opportunities.

This cancellation comes after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in separate annual military exercises between Washington and Seoul, which concluded on Friday. He cited their high cost and South Korea’s refusal to participate in the war against Iran as reasons for this reduction.

Despite the decrease in drills, North Korea launched ten short-range ballistic missiles last week and issued a statement condemning the joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea.