Military vehicles line up at Camp Humphreys, the main U.S. base in Pyeongtaek, about 53 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 18, 2026, as the allies conduct the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield combined exercise. (Yonhap/Kyodo)

SEOUL - South Korea and the United States will shorten their annual joint military exercise, the South Korean military said Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump's order to sharply reduce drills conducted by the two countries.

This year's Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise began on Monday and will end on Friday, earlier than the initially scheduled Aug. 27.

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