Many defence experts oppose the reduction in joint exercises with Seoul, but Jennifer Kavanagh, a military analyst at Defense Priorities, a think-tank, said the U.S. was too stretched globally and should urge allies to do more to defend themselves.
“The U.S. shouldn’t fight a war with North Korea for South Korea,” Kavanagh said. “I would rather have the U.S. pushing South Korea to do more to fight itself. I don’t see cancelling exercises as pulling the rug out from under them. It is a signal that they need to start moving more quickly to increase their own defence.”
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