PYONGYANG: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) condemned yesterday the upcoming US-Republic of Korea (ROK) joint military drill scheduled to begin today.

The 10-day exercise was aimed at "escalating sanctions and pressure on the DPRK" and "preparing a war of aggression", a spokesman for the Panmunjom Mission of the Korean People's Army said. DPRK would react in an-eye-for-an-eye manner if the two countries threaten it with nukes and missiles, the spokesman added: "If they tighten 'sanctions' ... the DPRK will react to them with merciless retaliation and an all-out war of justice."

The annual ROK-US drill, is aimed at improving the allies' defensive abilities against external aggressions to Seoul, the US Forces in the ROK said.