New Delhi, Aug. 26 -- US President Donald Trump said he instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, citing his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had been unhappy that the US had agreed to participate in the exercises.

"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I was not happy with the fact that the United States had, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea," Trump wrote.

Trump criticised the cost of the military exercises and said the United States pays a large portion of the expenses.

"These exercises are not only costly, wi...