South Korea holds civil defence drills amid US joint war games as tensions rise with North Korea

South Korea has conducted nationwide civil defence drills alongside large-scale military exercises with the United States, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield. The drills, which included air raid simulations and basic firefighting training, come amidst heightened tensions with North Korea. Whilst half of the military exercises near the demilitarised zone have been postponed until next month, ostensibly due to heat concerns, some officials suggest the delay aims to ease tensions with Pyongyang. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has attempted to mend ties with the North, affirming respect for its system and rejecting any intentions of hostile acts. However, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dismissed these overtures, describing the drills as provocative and calling for an expansion of the North's nuclear weapons programme. Al Jazeera's Jack Barton reports from Seoul, South Korea. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #SouthKorea #Seoul # #UlchiFreedomShield #SouthKoreaCivilDefenseDrills #SouthAndNorthKoreaTensions #SKoreaUSMilitaryExercises #USSouthKoreaAlliance #KoreanPeninsula #NorthKorea