South Korea pushes to take military control from US after Trump cuts drills

Just a few days after President Donald Trump ordered the United States to “substantially reduce” its joint military training with South Korea, the South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has renewed his push to gain full war time operational control of his nation’s military back from the U.S.

President Lee said he wants to continue with plans to take operational control of South Korea’s military away from the U.S. by the end of his five-year term in 2030.

President Trump ordered the Department of War to greatly reduce the size of this fall's annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise with South Korea. 

He said the annual drills were not only costly but hostile toward North Korea, which he described as a “non-threatening” country.

The annual UFS exercises are intended to increase the preparedness of both South Korea and the United States to react quickly if North Korea attacks either or both nations. 

The annual drills will have approximately 18,000 South Korean service members participating along with U.S. forces and some personnel from other member states of the United Nations Command.

However, Trump has argued that his relationship with Kim could help reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He has also said that Kim has responded to his recent diplomatic overtures, although he has not provided details about the North Korean leader's response.

Lee's government has maintained that greater South Korean military independence would not weaken its alliance with Washington. 

Instead, Seoul sees the transfer of operational control as part of strengthening its own defence capabilities and sovereignty.

Lee has also called for faster progress on South Korea's plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines, another sign that Seoul is seeking greater independent military capabilities.

The transfer of wartime command has been discussed for years but has repeatedly been delayed because of questions over South Korea's military readiness and its ability to independently lead operations during a major conflict.