US cancels Ssangyong amphibious exercise with South Korea
The US Marine Corps cancelled the Ssangyong amphibious exercise with South Korea scheduled for next month because of operational constraints tied to the war in Iran.
Source: Astro Awani · August 24, 2026 at 9:01 AM · AI-assisted report
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WASHINGTON, 24 AUGUST 2026 —
The US Marine Corps cancelled the Ssangyong amphibious exercise with South Korea scheduled for next month because of operational constraints tied to the war in Iran.
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South Korea’s Marine Corps spokesman said it received official notice from the US Marine Corps that the biennial division-level drill would not go ahead as planned. He added that both allies are still discussing when the exercise might be resumed.
The cancellation follows President Donald Trump’s instruction last Friday to scale back the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military drills. Trump cited high costs and South Korea’s refusal to join Washington’s military campaign against Iran. In a Truth Social post he called Ulchi Freedom Shield an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea.
Despite the scaled-down Ulchi Freedom Shield, North Korea launched ten short-range ballistic missiles last week and issued a statement condemning the drills. Pyongyang has long viewed US-South Korea military exercises as rehearsals for invasion, while Washington and Seoul insist the drills are defensive.
Related: Washington