[South Korea Confirms U.S. Cancels Upcoming Joint Amphibious Drill Amid Iran War Tensions]
The cancellation stems from President Donald Trump’s abrupt reduction of a separate annual joint military exercise.
Published On 24 Aug 2026
South Korea announced yesterday that the United States has halted a large‑scale amphibious landing exercise scheduled for next month, citing severe constraints on force availability triggered by the ongoing U.S.–Israel conflict over Iran.
The US Marine Corps formally notified our forces in June that its ability to deploy troops for this year’s Ssangyong exercise would be constrained due to the situation in the Middle East,” Han Seung-jeon, a spokesman for the South Korean Marine Corps, told reporters at a news briefing on Monday.
Related Reads
The biennial Ssungyong drills involve marine units from South Korea and the United States aimed at enhancing coordinated operations, typically incorporating surface ships, aircraft and ground forces practicing amphibious landings.
Seoul and Washington continued consultations regarding the resumption of the amphibious exercise, although no concrete plans have been disclosed.
No immediate commentary was provided by the Pentagon regarding the decision.
This announcement comes shortly after President Donald Trump’s surprise order last week to scale back another annual joint military drill—the Ulchi Freedom Shield—which was reduced from an eleven‑day event to a five‑day variant.
President Trump has also sought to revive his personal rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, claiming the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills conveyed “a signal that was wholly inappropriate and hostile” toward a nation that, under his administration, appears resolute.
In retaliation, North Korea fired ten short‑range ballistic missiles last week and issued a public statement denouncing the drills, labeling them rehearsals for invasion.
Historically, Pyongyang condemns such joint exercises as preparation for an attack. With missile fire continuing and official assessments estimating North Korea possesses anywhere from eighty to one hundred twenty nuclear warheads, diplomatic channels remain strained.
According to Mr. Trump, it is vital to “stay on good terms” with Kim, noting that Pyongyang now holds fifty‑seven extraordinarily capable nuclear devices—an estimate Seoul considers conservative.
Drawing from his first term, Mr. Trump emphasized that his recent withdrawal efforts targeted Kim, remarking that Pyongyang has accelerated its nuclear programme after the Hanoi summit failure to achieve denuclearisation agreements.
