The maneuvers drew 30 000-strong U.S. forces including the troops overseas, 56 000-strong south Korean puppet army and hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Rodong Sinmun Monday in a bylined commentary terms this a saber-rattling targeting the DPRK.

It says:

The U.S. authorities are calling the exercises "annual military drills" and "drills for defense" to cover up their provocative and aggressive nature. But no one will believe it.

Staging powder-reeking military drills in the Korean Peninsula which is beset with permanent danger of war due to acute political and military stand-off are a serious provocation to the DPRK.

If the hysteria of warmongers is put into practice on the peninsula, it will have catastrophic effect on the peace in Asia and the rest of the world.

The world is well aware of who is provoker of a war on the peninsula and wrecker of peace.

The DPRK will never remain a passive onlooker to the U.S. imperialists' moves to stifle it by force of arms. It is its immutable stand and principle to return to good faith with good faith and counter force with force. If even a single shell is dropped on the territory of the DPRK by the U.S. imperialists' provocation, its army and people will promptly move to deal deadly counter-blows at the enemy and lead them to a sacred war for the reunification of the country by the order of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un.