North Korea has threatened the UK with “a miserable end” if it participates in the joint US-South Korea military exercises currently taking place.

British forces are not currently involved in the Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills, which began on Monday and will continue till the end of the month, but a small number of UK servicemen are expected to be taking part along with representatives from other countries such as Australia.

A statement released by the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency denounced Washington and Seoul as “warmongers” and said the annual drills were “provocative”.

It dismissed the claims by South Korea that the drills were purely defensive, saying “formations of strategic bombers loaded with nuclear bombs are always ready for sortie”.

“We solemnly warn not only the US and [the] puppet group but also satellites, including [the] UK and Australia, which are taking advantage of the present war manoeuvres against the North, that they would face a miserable end if they join in,” it continued.

It comes amid a war of words between Pyongyang and Donald Trump which has exacerbated the already tense relations between North Korea and the US.

Mr Trump said North Korea would face “fire and fury like the world has never seen” if it escalates its nuclear threat – after receiving a report which suggested the regime had developed nuclear warheads small enough to fit on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video

In response, Pyongyang threatened a nuclear strike against Guam – the nearest US-controlled island to the Korean Peninsula.