South Korean, US militaries shorten drills by about half after Trump reduction order

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…