N. Korea warns of 'new level of deterrent' ahead of key S. Korea-US military drills - The Korea Times

U.S. military vehicles are parked at a U.S. military base in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, ahead of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise. Yonhap

North Korea on Friday denounced an upcoming joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States, warning it will respond to the drills "with a new level of a deterrent."

A spokesperson at North Korea's foreign ministry made the statement, as South Korea and the U.S. are set to begin the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise starting Monday until Aug. 27.

North Korea said the U.S. had described the annual exercise as "quite different from the ones of the past five years," framing it as Washington's effort to master modern warfare tactics, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"By doing so, it did not conceal its aim to complete preparations for the substantial military confrontation with" North Korea, the statement read.