The United States and South Korea kicked off their annual summertime joint military exercise on Monday, amid efforts by Seoul to improve relations with North Korea.

South Korea and the United States began their annual large-scale joint military exercise on Monday to better cope with threats by nuclear-armed North Korea.

South Korea will end some military activities along its border with North Korea, President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday, in his government's latest effort to improve ties between the neighbours still technically at war.