Trending 
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has responded to his recent diplomatic outreach, describing the ongoing communication as “very positive.”
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump asserted that his personal relationship with Kim makes the global situation much safer, though he declined to provide specific details about the nature or timing of Kim’s response.
The announcement followed Trump’s decision on Sunday to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, a move he linked directly to Seoul’s refusal to assist the United States and Israel in their conflict with Iran.
Trump openly criticised the longstanding Asian ally, questioning why South Korea refused to aid U.S. operations in Iran while tens of thousands of American troops remain deployed on the Korean Peninsula to defend the country against Pyongyang.
In response, South Korean officials confirmed that the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises had begun as scheduled, expressing hope that Trump’s relationship with Kim might revive diplomatic talks.
However, U.S. lawmakers strongly condemned the decision to curtail the drills, with Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed warning that adversaries like China and Russia are watching how easily the administration abandons key international allies.
