Trump orders Pentagon to scale back military drills with South Korea, hours before start

US President Donald Trump said he ordered the Pentagon to scale back "inappropriate and hostile" military drills with South Korea, hours before the exercises began on Monday. Trump cited his "good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as he said he was unhappy about the drills that were designed to prepare for a possible attack by Pyongyang. South Korea's defence ministry said it was proceeding as "previously notified and scheduled" with the annual exercise, which has prompted several rounds of warnings from Pyongyang last week. Read moreSouth Korea president proposes talks with Pyongyang to formally end Korean War "Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong-un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful," he added. As it was too late to...