The death toll included a pilot who died after a helicopter crashed during efforts to contain wildfires in the southeastern town of Uiseong, one of the areas hardest-hit.

Wildfires in South Korea fueled by high winds and dry weather have killed at least two dozen people and forced almost 30,000 to evacuate.

A firefighting helicopter crashed in the mountains of Uiseong county just after midday on Wednesday, according to authorities, who are investigating the cause. Thousands of firefighters and about 5,000 military personnel have been deployed to contain multiple blazes, as well as helicopters from the US military stationed in Korea.

South Korean police said on Sunday they booked a man suspected of starting what grew into the country's largest wildfire, killing at least 26 people and razing thousands of buildings including historic temples.

At least 26 people are dead, including the pilot of a helicopter that crashed trying to contain blazes that strong winds and dry conditions were helping to spread rapidly.

South Korean acting President Han Duck-soo on Wednesday called for the public to "calmly and coolly" accept the forthcoming Constitutional Court verdict on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

North Korea appears to have sent at least 3,000 more soldiers to Russia early this year, South Korea’s military said Thursday, demonstrating Pyongyang’s continued support for Moscow’s war on Ukraine as world leaders push for an end to the three-year conflict.