Alarm in South Korea as Iran dispute with Trump shakes 72 year alliance The recent directive by President Donald Trump to scale back joint military exercises between the US and South Korea has sent shockwaves through Seoul, reigniting long standing doubts about the reliability of Washington's security guarantees.
The decision, announced via a social media post on Monday, caught South Korean officials off guard and sparked a heated debate over the country's stance on the war in Iran.
The 72 year old alliance between the US and South Korea has been built on mutual defense agreements that have provided South Korea with a sense of security against North Korea's belligerent rhetoric.