South Korea had no intention of using the exercises to attack North Korea or raise ⁠tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Lee said, adding that their purpose was to protect citizens

President Trump wants to curtail military exercises with South Korea, saying they were hostile to North Korea. But under Mr. Kim, the North has become increasingly belligerent toward the South.

The partly flooded street by heavy rain is seen in Geoje, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (Kim Dong-min/Yonhap via AP) Residents push a tricycle along a flooded street due to heavy monsoon rains at Mandaluyong,

South Korean President ⁠Lee ⁠Jae Myung called ⁠on Saturday for talks with North Korea to ​pursue peaceful coexistence, saying Seoul would seek safeguards to prevent ‌conflict and noting the need ‌to replace the peninsula's armistice with a "peace regime".

It comes as large swathes of East and South East Asia have been pummelled by dats of heavy rain.

Plans for a large-scale green hydrogen complex at Saemangeum in South Korea have been announced following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Korea South-East Power (KOEN) and the Saemangeum Development Agency.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Sunday (Aug 16) that warning shots had been fired when North Korean soldiers violated the military demarcation line between the countries, prompting them to return.