N. Korean dire warning on S. Korean drill

PYONGYANG, North Korea, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- North Korea Monday issued nationwide "special alerts" with a dire nuclear warning in response to the planned U.S.-South Korea military exercises.

"Should the U.S. and the South Korean commit even the slightest military provocation infringing upon (North Korea's) sovereignty, it will mount a merciless and prompt annihilating strike at the aggressors with all offensive and defensive means including nuclear deterrent involved," the official KCNA news agency said.

China's Xinhua news agency reported the order was issued by the Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army.

The North Korean report said the 10-day military exercises starting Monday are "a blatant challenge and grave threat to the peace on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia as they are aimed to launch aggression and mount a surprise pre-emptive strike" at North Korea.

The alerts asked the military forces to "closely follow all the moves of the aggressors with high revolutionary vigilance and make an immediate strong attack on perpetrators of any hostile act of intruding the sky, land and seas of the country."

North Korea has been on an aggressive posture since its May 25 nuclear test and subsequent missile tests, which resulted in tightened U.N. sanctions. Since then, North Korea has pulled out of the six-nation talks on its denuclearization in exchange for massive aid.

The United States has about 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea.