According to CoinMeta, President Trump ordered on Sunday for the Pentagon to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, stating that these exercises are costly and send a "completely inappropriate and hostile" signal to North Korea. Trump stated on social media that the exercises, which were scheduled to begin this week, would be significantly reduced, and mentioned that South Korean President Moon Jae-in had rejected the proposal to work together with the United States to denuclearize Iran. These exercises involve 18,000 South Korean soldiers and are aimed at enhancing the ability to respond to threats from North Korea. North Korea responded by saying it would take severe measures, calling the U.S.-South Korea military exercises a "rehearsal for an aggressive war" that exacerbates regional instability.