North Korea warns of, 'merciless strike', ahead of US-South Korea drills

North Korea warned that the upcoming US-South Korea military exercises are "reckless behavior driving the situation into the uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war."

Pyongyang also declared that its army can target the United States anytime, and neither Guam, Hawaii nor the US mainland can "dodge the merciless strike."

The messages in Rodong Sinmun, the official government newspaper, come a day before the US starts the Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercises with South Korea.

But US military and Trump administration officials said the 10-day military exercises set to begin Monday, would go ahead as scheduled. The annual drills antagonize Pyongyang, which sees them as practice for an invasion.

However, the US and South Korea maintain they are purely defensive. Both US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis said last week that the US was keeping military options on the table in dealing with North Korea.

 

UCJ, UNILORIN.