Donald Trump, the President of the United States, reiterated on August 30 that South Korea did not assist the U.S. in its conflict with Iran, stating, "I will remember this."
In an interview aired that night on Fox News, Trump noted, "The U.S. spends billions to help NATO and other countries, but we receive little assistance in return," citing South Korea as a prime example.
He mentioned, "For instance, there are 40,000 U.S. troops in South Korea (actually about 28,500)," but claimed that when asked for help regarding Iran, the South Korean government responded, 'It’s better not to.' He added, "I will remember this."
Trump's use of the phrase "I will remember this" could signal dissatisfaction with South Korea's policy toward Iran and may serve as a warning regarding future discussions on defense costs, the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea, and the division of roles within the alliance.
Earlier, on August 16, Trump mentioned on his social media platform Truth Social that South Korea had declined his request for support in military operations against Iran. This was followed by controversy over the reduction in the scale of the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS).
In the interview, Trump also argued that there is no need to spend money on allies that do not assist the U.S. He stated, "We will make a lot of money in the future," adding, "If they do not want to step up for us, we cannot just be fools and keep helping them."
Trump's renewed focus on South Korea's lack of support regarding Iran raises concerns about potential links to key issues in U.S.-South Korea relations, including defense cost-sharing and trade tariffs.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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