US President Donald Trump is escalating pressure on Washington’s allies over their refusal to participate in the US war on Iran, with South Korea becoming the latest target of his demands for support, Zachary Basu writes for Axios. 

Trump ordered the Pentagon to "substantially reduce" the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises with South Korea on Sunday, citing their cost and his "very good relationship" with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

The US-South Korean drills have long been a central component of Washington’s military presence on the Korean Peninsula.

Trump, however, linked the decision to Seoul’s refusal to participate in the US campaign against Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had "recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, 'No thanks!'"

"We can't go around and protect all of these countries, especially when they're not there to help us," the US President told reporters on Monday.

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