Nearly two-thirds of South Koreans want the country to have its own nuclear weapons, a poll showed, underscoring concerns about the reliability of US security guarantees after Trump unilaterally curtailed joint military exercises with Seoul, Bloomberg reports.

According to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday, 65% of respondents support South Korea having its own nuclear weapons, while 30% oppose to the idea. The poll was conducted Aug. 25-27 among 1,001 respondents across the country and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, Gallup Korea said.

The survey results come after Trump this month abruptly curtailed US-South Korean military drills, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The surprise move has raised concerns about the alliance, with officials in Seoul later confirming they weren’t informed of the decision in advance.

The Bloomberg article is archived.

The Guardian: South Korea president calls for military independence in wake of Trump call to cut joint drills