22 August 2016•Update: 22 August 2016
SEOUL
South Korea and the United States have kicked off a two-week annual joint military exercise, which North Korea claims is a rehearsal for invading the reclusive state.
As the exercise began Monday, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported Pyongyang as threatening a pre-emptive nuclear attack on the allies.
South Korea and the U.S. "should bear in mind that if they show the slightest sign of aggression on [North Korea’s] inviolable land, seas and air... it would turn the stronghold of provocation into a heap of ashes through Korean-style pre-emptive nuclear strike," the General Staff of the North’s Korean People's Army said.
The drill will run to Sept. 2, and involves about 75,000 troops, with 25,000 from the U.S.
Nine member countries of the United Nations Command based in South Korea are also joining the computerized military exercise in 2016, including Australia, Canada, France and Britain.
Pyongyang regularly condemns military exercises in South Korea -- especially those involving the U.S.
Ahead of the military drills earlier this month, Pyongyang accused Washington of planning to “invade” the North.
A statement released by the reclusive state’s KCNA news agency threatened “to deal a merciless and annihilating blow to the enemy if they make even the slightest provocation”.
Since the 1950-53 Korean War -- which ended in an armistice, with neither side able to claim victory -- both countries have regularly accused the other of violating the agreement.
The accusations have become more frequent, however, as tensions rise over North Korea's nuclear program.
The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, the armistice watchdog, will also participate in the drill as an observer.
