Is Kim Jong Un the real winner of the Iran war?

金正恩是否是伊朗战争的真正赢家?

The Global Story

2026-08-19

26 分钟
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President Trump took to Truth Social last weekend to announce that the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea. He cited his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, but he also accused South Korea of failing to help the US in its war with Iran – comments that suggest major new cracks in the US’s relationship with a key ally. To understand the reaction from South Korea, we speak to the BBC’s Seoul Correspondent Jake Kwon about whether Trump’s sidelining of South Korea is a major foreign policy shift for the US. Producers: Aron Keller and Mhairi MacKenzie Executive producer: Martine Powers Mix: Travis Evans Digital producer: Sam Gruet Senior news editor: China Collins Photo: A South Korean soldier stands next to a TV broadcasting a news report on a possible summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, October 22, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji
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  • The United States and South Korea have been close military partners since the 1950s, when the U.S.

  • Stepped in to help South Korea fight the invading communist forces from the north.

  • It's a relationship that has been upheld by Republican and Democratic presidents alike for decades.

  • The ties linking the Republic of Korea and the United States are many and strong.

  • America is going to continue to stand with the Korean Peninsula, no question about it.

  • We take comfort in knowing that the security we seek.

  • The peace we want is closer at hand because of the great alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea.

  • But on Sunday, President Trump announced in a social media post that the U.S.

  • Will substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea.

  • He seems to be referring to a program taking place this week called Ulchi Freedom Shield.

  • And in responding to questions from reporters about this decision,

  • Trump pointed to his good relationship with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un.

  • How do you respond to folks who say that you are prioritizing

  • the interests of adversaries in North Korea over our longtime partners?