South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that preserving peace remains “most important” for the country, while warning that Seoul must also be prepared for the “worst case scenario.” His remarks come as the Trump administration moves to significantly scale back joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises.

.S. President Donald Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” joint military drills with South Korea, arguing that continuing them could “send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile” toward North Korea.

In a Truth Social post Sunday, Trump pointed to his “very good” relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and characterized North Korea as “unthreatening and respectful.”

Lee emphasized Tuesday that the annual exercises, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, are defensive in nature. According to a CNBC translation of the Korean government statement, he said the drills are not designed to attack North Korea or increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The exercises are scheduled to continue through Aug. 27 and involve roughly 18,000 South Korean military personnel.

For Seoul, the situation presents a delicate balance: maintaining stability and avoiding unnecessary escalation while ensuring the country remains prepared for a potential security crisis.

Lee’s comments underscore the tension between efforts to reduce confrontation with North Korea and the need to preserve military readiness amid uncertainty over the future of U.S.-South Korean defense cooperation.