Trump says S. Korea 'not helpful,' cites U.S. troops near 'nuclear force' on peninsula | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that South Korea was "not helpful" to the United States, noting the presence of American troops "in harm's way" in the Asian country "right next to a nuclear force," as he highlighted the need for countries to help secure the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Let South Korea, who was not helpful to us, by the way ...You know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm's way over there, right next to a nuclear force. President Donald Trump speaking during the signing ceremony for an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 31, 2026. (Yonhap) sshluck@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Trump Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Most Viewed All Categories (3rd LD) Lee, Prabowo agree to elevate bilateral ties, expand defense industry cooperation (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S. (2nd LD) Lee asks Indonesia's Prabowo to expand resource cooperation amid Mideast war (LEAD) Lee, Indonesia's Prabowo hold summit talks with eye on defense cooperation Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang Indonesian president visits S. Korea 'not helpful,' cites U.S. troops near 'nuclear force' on peninsula Next Trump says S.

## Article Content
Facebook
X
More
Pinterest
Linked in
Tumblr
Reddit
Facebook Messenger
Copy URL
URL is copied.
OK
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, April 1 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that South Korea was "not helpful" to the United States, noting the presence of American troops "in harm's way" in the Asian country "right next to a nuclear force," as he highlighted the need for countries to help secure the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Trump made the remarks during an annual Easter luncheon at the White House, singling out South Korea, China, Japan and France as he reiterated that those countries that rely on the strait for energy imports should help reopen the waterway, a crucial oil shipping route.
"Let the European countries do it. Let South Korea, who was not helpful to us, by the way ...You know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm's way over there, right next to a nuclear force. Let South Korea do it," he said, apparently referring to North Korea's nuclear force.
"Let Japan do it. They get 90 percent of the oil from the strait. Let China do it. Let them all do it," he added.
This file photo, released by Reuters, shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during the signing ceremony for an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 31, 2026. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
Keywords
#Trump
Articles with issue keywords
Most Liked
Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel
(2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma
Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me'
(Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot
(News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation
Most Saved
Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel
(2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma
(News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation
Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me'
(Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot
Most Viewed
All Categories
(3rd LD) Lee, Prabowo agree to elevate bilateral ties, expand defense industry cooperation
(LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break
(LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.
(2nd LD) Lee asks Indonesia's Prabowo to expand resource cooperation amid Mideast war
(LEAD) Lee, Indonesia's Prabowo hold summit talks with eye on defense cooperation
Most Viewed More
Most Viewed Photos
Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang
Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang
Indonesian president visits S. Korea
Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang
prev
Trump says S. Korea 'not helpful,' cites U.S. troops near 'nuclear force' on peninsula
Next
Trump says S. Korea 'not helpful,' cites U.S. troops near 'nuclear force' on peninsula

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- President Donald Trump speaking during the signing ceremony for an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 31, 2026. (Yonhap) sshluck@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Trump Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Most Viewed All Categories (3rd LD) Lee, Prabowo agree to elevate bilateral ties, expand defense industry cooperation (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S. (2nd LD) Lee asks Indonesia's Prabowo to expand resource cooperation amid Mideast war (LEAD) Lee, Indonesia's Prabowo hold summit talks with eye on defense cooperation Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang Indonesian president visits S.

### Implications
- Trump made the remarks during an annual Easter luncheon at the White House, singling out South Korea, China, Japan and France as he reiterated that those countries that rely on the strait for energy imports should help reopen the waterway, a crucial oil shipping route. "Let the European countries do it.
- President Donald Trump speaking during the signing ceremony for an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 31, 2026. (Yonhap) sshluck@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Trump Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Most Viewed All Categories (3rd LD) Lee, Prabowo agree to elevate bilateral ties, expand defense industry cooperation (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S. (2nd LD) Lee asks Indonesia's Prabowo to expand resource cooperation amid Mideast war (LEAD) Lee, Indonesia's Prabowo hold summit talks with eye on defense cooperation Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang Indonesian president visits S.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers korea, trump, news topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 483.