South Korea has long come under targeted criticism from Trump, who has called it a "money machine" that takes advantage of American military protection.

President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed optimism for close cooperation on North Korea, national security and shipbuilding, though the US leader downplayed the chances for further concessions on Seoul’s tariff deal.

North Korea said U.S.-South Korea joint military drills proved Washington's intention to "occupy" the Korean peninsula and aim at its enemy countries in the region, state media reported. "If they continuously persist in the military rehearsal,