Emergency Episode: What's Happening with Korea? Military exercises, Kim Jong-un and Iran

In a weekend statement, President Trump said he was unhappy that the United States participates in joint military exercises with South Korea, describing them as expensive and as sending a hostile signal to North Korea, and ordered a substantial reduction in U.S. participation. He cited what he called his very good relationship with Kim Jong-un, characterized North Korea as unthreatening and respectful during his time in office, and said he had asked President Lee Jae Myung to join U.S. efforts on Iran and was turned down. Seoul's response has been measured, with the presidential office pointing to its role in ceasefire diplomacy and in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.

What does this mean for the U.S.-Korea alliance? For U.S.-North Korea relations? Joining Mark Lippert to discuss these issues and more are Victor Cha, Andrew Yeo, and Sydney Seiler.

Sydney Seiler was the national intelligence officer for North Korea at the National Intelligence Council from 2020 to 2023 and is one of the nation's top experts on North Korea.

Andrew Yeo is a senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair at the Brookings Institution's Center for Asia Policy Studies. He is also a professor of politics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

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