North Korea warns of merciless strike ahead of US-South Korea drills

North Korea warned this morning that the upcoming US‑South Korea military exercises are "reckless behavior driving the situation into the uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war.

Pyongyang also declared that its army can target the United States anytime, and neither Guam, Hawaii nor the US mainland can "dodge the merciless strike."

The messages in the official government newspaper, come a day before the US starts the Freedom Guardian military exercises with South Korea.

Tensions between the US and North Korea have grown in recent weeks.

Last week, Pyongyang said it had finalized a plan to fire four missiles toward the US territory of Guam.

State media reported that leader Kim Jong Un would assess the US' next move before giving launch orders.

A North Korean statement said last week that Kim would "watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees.

But US military and Trump administration officials said the 10‑day military exercises set to begin today, would go ahead as scheduled.

The annual drills antagonize Pyongyang, which sees them as practice for an invasion. However, the US and South Korea maintain they are purely defensive.

Source: CNN