New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- The South Korean and U.S. militaries have agreed to sharply scale back their drills at the U.S.'s request, South Korean officials said Wednesday, a move that likely reflected President Donald Trump's hopes to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un but that could undermine a U.S.-South Korean defense readiness.

Trump had ordered his Pentagon chief to downsize the allies' summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, just before they began Monday for an 11-day run. Trump cited what he said was a good relationship with Kim and South Korea's refusal to support him over Iran.

South Korea's military said in a statement the ongoing drills with the U.S. would end Friday, not Aug. 27 as initially planned. It said the al...