Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back military exercises with South Korea. But the exercises began as scheduled on Monday.

South Korea's defense ministry said the drills would proceed as planned. The order came days after North Korea test-fired missiles.

Trump said the war games were unnecessarily provocative. He called them a challenge to North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump claimed the scale-back made South Korea safer. He credited a good relationship with North Korea.

Trump said Kim Jong Un had responded to his outreach. The next day Trump gave a different reason.

He blamed South Korea for not helping in the Strait of Hormuz. He also criticized South Korea for not joining the Iran war.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the decision "inane, haphazard" and "shortsighted." A top Democrat said the move aimed to flatter North Korea's leader. Lawmakers warned it could also strengthen Russia's position in Ukraine. Military officials warned North Korea is learning new drone tactics from Russia.