The drills, which will kick off next week, are a "direct military provocation" against North Korea, Pyongyang said.

North Korea's defense chief on Monday condemned an upcoming large-scale joint military exercise between the United States and ...

The U.S. and South Korea are holding combined military exercises. The annual drills focus on countering threats from North Korea.

North Korea will react with "resolute counteraction" in the event of provocations from upcoming joint US-South Korea military drills, its defense chief said.