The United States military has canceled a major joint amphibious landing exercise with South Korean forces scheduled for September. Seoul’s military announced the cancellation on Monday, citing resource constraints related to the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
The biennial exercise, known as Ssangyong or \"Twin Dragons,\" typically involves more than 10,000 marines from both nations. The drills utilize warships, aircraft, and ground forces to rehearse amphibious landings. A spokesperson for the South Korean Marine Corps stated that the U.S. Marine Corps formally issued notification in June that its ability to deploy forces for the event was limited by the situation in the Middle East.
This decision follows a recent reduction in another joint military drill, Ulchi Freedom Shield. Last week, President Trump announced that the 11-day exercise, which began on August 17, would be shortened to five days. The president attributed the reduction to a desire to resume diplomatic talks with North Korea and cited a lack of assistance from South Korea regarding the U.S. conflict in Iran. North Korea has since stated it has no plans for further talks with Washington.
For the personnel involved, the cancellation means a suspension of rehearsals for complex amphibious operations involving warships and aircraft. Beyond the immediate training impact, the decision reflects a shift in how U.S. military resources are prioritized globally as the conflict in Iran continues to draw equipment and personnel. The U.S. Marine Corps has not yet issued a formal public response to the Pentagon's referral for comment, though South Korean officials noted that both nations are consulting on a future resumption of the drills.
The move establishes a precedent for linking regional security exercises in Asia to resource demands in the Middle East. It also follows the early conclusion of the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills on Friday, which were shortened by six days. The next steps involve ongoing consultations between Washington and Seoul to determine when, or if, the biennial Ssangyong exercises will be rescheduled. No specific dates for future drills have been announced.