Out of all the countries involved and affected by the North Korean crisis, by far the most impacted is South Korea. Their proximity to the DPRK is surely causing distress in South Korea due to the current missile testing coming from Pyongyang.
I think that it is a very smart move on South Korea’s part to be restoring ties with the Chinese during this crisis. Although China is the largest ally of North Korea, their willingness to meet with the South Korean president as well as President Trump shows that they are open to pressuring Pyongyang to halt the manufacturing of nuclear weapons.
I also think that, while it is a practical safety measure to continue military drills in light of possible war, increased aircrafts and military assistance from the United States in South Korea could provoke the North even further and convince them that no peaceful agreement could ever be made. This assumption by the North would be detrimental to Seoul in particular due to its importance and proximity to North Korea.
However, I agree with the statement that North Korea cannot expect the United States and South Korea to minimize military drills if Pyongyang continues missile testing. If they hope to hold a discussion with Washington to end the controversy peacefully, then North Korea cannot continue to test missiles that could reach places such as Japan, Seoul, or even the west coast of the United States.