South Korea's coast guard says four crew members are dead and 12 missing after a powerful typhoon blew two Chinese ships into rocks off South Korea's southern Jeju island.

South Korea issued a storm warning for the capital, Seoul, as Typhoon Bolaven pounded the country's south and west on Tuesday, knocking over street lights and church spires.

South Korean officials are predicting strong winds and 40-100 millimeters (1.6-3.9 inches) of rain in Seoul. The Defense Ministry says US and South Korean military forces have temporarily halted ongoing joint war games.

North Korea is also in the typhoon's path. That country is still rebuilding from massive floods and a devastating drought before that.

Another typhoon is lashing southern Taiwan three days after drenching the same region before blowing out to sea.