Pyongyang announced, Monday, that it will respond to the joint exercises between the United States and South Korea with "sustainable, resolute and sweeping" military measures, according to the North's official news agency.
The agency quoted the military as describing the air exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States last week as a clear provocation and dangerous war games, pledging to continue responding with "firm and crushing" military measures.
The warning came amid a series of missile tests by North Korea in recent weeks, including four ballistic missiles launched on Saturday, days after the United States and South Korea concluded their largest-ever air force exercises.
Vigilant Storm
Earlier, Pyongyang described the exercises, which it called "Vigilant Storm" as "provocative and hostile", threatening Seoul and Washington "to pay the biggest price in history."
North Korea views the military exercises between the United States and South Korea as exercises to invade its territory or overthrow its regime.
Existential Threat
In September, North Korea made changes to its nuclear doctrine that allow it to carry out pre-emptive strikes in the event of an existential threat to Kim Jong Un's regime.
The new doctrine states that if North Korea's nuclear "command and control system" is "at risk of attack by enemy forces, a nuclear strike will be launched automatically and immediately."
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- Agencies