Trump says joint military exercises are still off the table

[DonViejo]

Michael Sykes14 hours ago

In a series of tweets Wednesday, President Trump said there was "no reason at this time" to participate in joint "war games" with South Korea and Japan, maintaining that his relationship with Kim Jong-un is still "a very good and warm one."

Why it matters: Despite the administration's frustration with the denuclearization process with North Korea, Trump is standing by his decision to pull out of the military exercises, which he characterized as "provocative" in June. His tweets also clarify any confusion after Defense Secretary James Mattis suggested Tuesday that joint military exercises could be back on the table.

Trump also suggested that the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and Beijing had affected the negotiations with Pyongyang, and blamed China for providing North Korea with aid and other goods. However, Trump added that he believes the issues with China will be resolved in time, noting his "very strong" bond with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Timing: This comes after the president canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to Pyongyang, tweeting last week that he feels the U.S. is "not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

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https://www.axios.com/trump-tweets-military-exercises-north-korea-china-aa69be96-b81c-4207-9664-db6a48c567ce.html

[mitch96]

1. Yup, PUtin did not like 'em... n/t