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In cutting joint drills, Trump has given South Korea’s president what he wants. So why does Seoul look so uneasy?

The Guardian UK Wednesday 19 August 2026, 05:40 UTC By Raphael Rashid in Seoul 1 min read
Key Points

President Lee Jae Myung has long pushed for stronger homegrown defences, yet Donald Trump’s move has sparked alarm in some quartersAt their first summit, in August last year, South Korean president Lee Jae Myung told Donald Trump: “If you, Mr President, become the peacemaker, then I will assist you as the pacemaker. ”The remark at the Oval Office captured the thrust of Lee’s approach to the North: dial down the military posturing and make repeated peace overtures to revive dialogue, even if...

President Lee Jae Myung has long pushed for stronger homegrown defences, yet Donald Trump’s move has sparked alarm in some quarters

At their first summit, in August last year, South Korean president Lee Jae Myung told Donald Trump: “If you, Mr President, become the peacemaker, then I will assist you as the pacemaker.”

The remark at the Oval Office captured the thrust of Lee’s approach to the North: dial down the military posturing and make repeated peace overtures to revive dialogue, even if they have been consistently rejected by Pyongyang largely over Seoul’s insistence on denuclearisation.

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Trump (ORG) South Korea’s (LOCATION) Seoul (LOCATION) Lee Jae Myung (PERSON) Donald Trump’s (PERSON) South Korean (ORG) Donald Trump (PERSON) the Oval Office (LOCATION) Lee (PERSON) North (LOCATION) Pyongyang (LOCATION)
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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