South Korea Unification Minister Lee In-young has called for "maximum flexibility" in making decisions about combined military exercises with the United States set for August.

Appearing on a KBS program on Sunday, the minister said that the combined exercises should never work in a way that causes or further escalates tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee said that the Seoul government should carry out a policy coordination process with maximum flexibility in relation to the drills.

He added that while comprehensively taking several circumstances into consideration, South Korea should make a final decision on what to do with the combined exercises scheduled for August.

The minister then added he hopes North Korea will also show flexibility.