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U.S. Marines cancel Ssangyong drill with South Korea over Iran war

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle. Public domain · source

Composite story

U.S. Marines cancel Ssangyong drill with South Korea over Iran war

Seoul says Washington canceled the September amphibious landing because of Iran-war force shortages, after Trump already shortened Ulchi Freedom Shield.

South Korea says the United States canceled the September Ssangyong amphibious landing with U.S. Marines, after Washington notified Seoul in June that Iran-war deployments had constrained available forces. The allies say they are still talking about a later resumption; Seoul’s Marines say they will train on their own this year. The cut follows President Trump’s order shrinking Ulchi Freedom Shield from 11 days to five, which he tied to cost, Seoul’s refusal to join the Iran war, and a wish not to send a “hostile” signal to North Korea. North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles last week anyway.

Shared facts

South Korea's marine corps said the United States axed a military exercise scheduled for September.

Washington cited limitations on its forces brought on by the war with Iran.

Han Seung-jeon said the U.S. Marine Corps notified Seoul in June that it could not deploy for Ssangyong because of the Middle East.

The cancellation follows Trump's Aug. 16 order to pare back another joint exercise that ended Aug. 21.

Han said Seoul and Washington were still consulting on resuming the amphibious exercise.

Ssangyong is a large-scale combined exercise held every two years.

Ulchi Freedom Shield was cut from 11 days to five.

It involves division-level units from both countries and assault landing ship task forces.

The drills typically use warships, aircraft and ground forces to rehearse amphibious landings.

Trump said the drills sent a totally inappropriate and hostile signal toward North Korea, which he called unthreatening.

Trump said the exercises were costly and that much of the cost is borne by the United States.

Trump cited Seoul's refusal to support Washington in its war with Iran.

The U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet says Ssangyong means two dragons, for South Korea and the United States.

The exercise was last conducted in 2024.

The Pentagon and other U.S. commands did not comment by publication time.

Trump said his relationship with Kim Jong Un made him question large-scale military exercises.

The exercise has drawn particularly sharp objections from North Korea.

South Korea's joint chiefs said the missiles were launched from the capital region at about 5 p.m. on Aug. 20.

U.S. Forces Korea did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump said Pyongyang now had 57 very powerful nuclear weapons.

Seoul estimates North Korea has 80 to 120 nuclear weapons.

Trump met Kim three times during his first term.

Pyongyang accelerated its nuclear programmes after the 2019 Hanoi summit collapsed.

Disputed facts

None yet.

Reuters

US cancels joint marine drills with South Korea over Iran war-related force constraints

Heejin Kim and Joyce Lee

24 Aug 2026

Facts

The spokesperson did not specify how to prevent future cancellations or make up lost training.

The State Department said Rubio spoke with Cho Hyun about a range of alliance issues.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

Euronews

South Korea says US cancelled joint marine drills over force constraints from Iran war

Gavin Blackburn

24 Aug 2026

Facts

No unique facts.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

The Hill

US cancels major joint marine drill with South Korea amid resource constraints

Ellen Mitchell

24 Aug 2026

Facts

It involves more than 10,000 marines from both countries.

The exercise has taken place for decades.

Ssangyong was previously canceled in Trump's first term, citing cost and diplomacy with Kim.

North Korea has said there are no future plans for talks with Washington.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

Al Jazeera

South Korea says US cancelled upcoming joint marine exercises over Iran war

AFP and Reuters

24 Aug 2026

Facts

No unique facts.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

The Herald Business

Marine Corps says Ssangyong exercise canceled at US request; S. Korea to train alone

Jeon Hyun-geon

25 Aug 2026

Facts

South Korea will conduct the training on its own.

U.S. aircraft carriers previously in the western Pacific have moved to the Middle East.

The Marine Corps said combined operational readiness remains unaffected.

South Korean Marines held KMEP combined exercises with U.S. III MEF units in the first half of this year.

South Korean Marines have also kept joining overseas drills including Cobra Gold, RIMPAC and Super Garuda Shield.

Opinion

The paper says Ssangyong is regarded as a highly offensive counterattack exercise.

NTD

US Cancels Military Drill With South Korea After Citing Iran War Constraints, Seoul Says

Guy Birchall

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Pacific Fleet says the drill is meant to strengthen combined combat readiness.

Ssangyong has been held regularly since 2012 and was last conducted in 2024.

Trump said President Lee Jae-myung declined a U.S. request to support the Iran conflict.

U.S. and South Korean marines held a Ssangyong beach landing in Pohang on March 12, 2016.

The drill is also meant to advance South Korean marine task-force and command-and-control skills.

Trump said he planned to meet Kim later this year.

Cho said Seoul had not finalized details of a planned $350 billion U.S. investment.

Trump and Kim met in 2018 and 2019 during Trump's first term.

Kim Yo-jong said she was unaware of recent communication between Trump and Kim.

South Korean officials said the missiles each flew about 186 miles toward eastern waters.

Opinion

Cho Hyun said Trump's drill cut appeared to serve political purposes beyond military planning.

Kim Yo-jong appeared to dismiss Trump's gesture of reducing the joint drills.