The statement said that the drills are a nuclear war rehearsal.

It went on:

The joint military drills to be staged until April 24 are dangerous war exercises as they are aiming at rapid deployment of U.S. troops, a surprise preemptive attack, "removal" of the headquarters of the DPRK and "occupation of Pyongyang".

A spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army in a statement solemnly declared the stand of the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK not to allow any invasion by the U.S. imperialists and their followers into the territorial land, air and waters of Korea.

We strongly denounce the U.S.-south Korea joint military drills against the DPRK.

We extend full support and solidarity to the righteous struggle of the Korean people to smash the aggression moves of the hostile forces and defend the security of the country.