The statement condemned the criminal drills as a blatant challenge to the DPRK, which has made sincere efforts to mend the inter-Korean relations, and a grave provocation aggravating tensions on the Korean peninsula.

It accused the south Korean authorities for turning down the crucial proposal made by the National Defence Commission of the DPRK to stop all military hostile acts to protect peace and security of the nation.

The on-going saber-rattling is not an "annual" and "defensive" one advertised by the U.S. as it is being staged according to war scenarios aimed to invade the DPRK, it said, adding:

The DPRK will as ever strive to defend peace on the Korean peninsula with self-restraint and patience but never remain a passive onlooker to the aggression moves of the provocateurs.

The U.S. and south Korean warmongers should not misjudge the self-restraint and patience of the DPRK.

The service personnel and people of the DPRK will relentlessly smash any provocation of the aggressors.