US-North Korea Rapprochement & Alliance Shift

Trump announces burying the hatchet with Kim Jong Un, deprioritizing South Korea security. US scales back Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises linked to Seoul's refusal to join Iran war. Trump confirms Kim responded but offers no details. This undermines 70-year US-South Korea alliance, rewards North Korea, and could push South Korea toward nuclear weapons. Challenges US reliability and affects global sanctions enforcement on North Korea.