US President Donald Trump snapped at a journalist, calling them a "boisterous person" over questions about his decision to scale back military exercises with South Korea.
Trump's order to cut military exercises with South Korea caused concerns it might hurt the allies' readiness against North Korean threats.
While taking questions from reporters at the White House, the President was asked whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had requested a reduction in military activity.
Trump shot back: "Quiet, quiet, quiet. You are very disrespectful in front of this young man. Okay? Don't you find her disrespectful? He understands. Quiet. Who are you with?"
The reporter replied: "I'm with CNN."
"Fake news," Trump said.
"You are fake news. You're a loud, boisterous person. You are fake news. Be quiet, be quiet, be quiet. You are a fake reporter, and you report fake news."
Trump has cited his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the decision, a likely bid to reengage with Kim, who views US-South Korean military exercises as invasion rehearsals.
Experts say the North Korean leader, now emboldened by his advancing nuclear arsenal and expanding military cooperation with Russia, won’t likely return to talks unless he is assured of serious US concessions.
The 11-day, summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises began as scheduled, and it wasn’t known which parts of the training were being downsized.
Trump's announcement baffled many in South Korea, a key US ally in Asia where national security is a top priority due to threats from nuclear-armed North Korea.
South Korea hopes for talks between US and North Korea
The office of South Korea's president said later that the government hopes “friendly relationship” between Trump and Kim would lead to “meaningful dialogue” between the US and North Korea and start discussions on promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. It said that South Korea will make necessary diplomatic efforts for that.
South Korea and the US are closely discussing practical and military contributions that can be made to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to South Korea's presidential office.
Lee is a liberal who espouses improved ties with North Korea. Since taking office last year, his government has taken proactive steps to improve ties with North Korea, including turning off front-line loudspeakers that blared K-pop music and world news. On Sunday, Lee offered to hold talks to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
The conservative People Power Party, the main opposition party, lambasted Lee for allegedly “turning a blind eye on the public's security concerns” caused by Trump's announcement and prioritising hopes for US-North Korea diplomacy.
North Korea has shunned any talks with South Korea and the US and accelerated weapons testing activities since Kim's high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Trump broke down in 2019. Kim has also bolstered his diplomatic credentials by aligning with Russia over its war against Ukraine and by taking steps to deepen cooperation with China.
In September 2025, Kim suggested he could resume talks with the American president if the US drops “its delusional obsession with denuclearisation” of North Korea. Experts say Kim likely aims to use his enlarged nuclear arsenal to win major concessions like extensive sanctions relief.
“Trump’s recent social media posts about Kim Jong Un suggest a willingness to reengage, but North Korea is busy profiting from Russia’s war against Ukraine while modernising its own military,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.
Downsizing the US and South Korean drills “can damage alliance coordination, slow the process of South Korea taking on greater responsibility for its own defence, and weaken deterrence against possible conflicts in Asia,” Easley said.
Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at Washington’s Center for a New American Security, said: “Reducing joint drills weakens military readiness over time against another potential North Korean attack.”
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