As America’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo must pursue good relations with foreign powers and also speak up for American interests.

For that reason, Pompeo deserves credit for challenging the South Korean government’s recent deal to suspend military drills along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. South Korea made clear on Wednesday that Pompeo had expressed his strong displeasure over that deal. The South Koreans say that these suspended drills reduce the risk of an inadvertent military exchange and ameliorate broader tensions. But they’re wrong, because the South Korean approach here actually fosters two negative outcomes: It endangers U.S. military forces and it emboldens hardliner elements in the North Korean regime.