PYONGYANG, August 18. /ITAR-TASS/. North Korea will annually take countermeasures for self-defense purposes as long as the US and South Korea “continue maneuvres directed against us”, the North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

“This is a serious military provocation against North Korea and an inexcusable criminal action that undermines peace and security,” the North Korean ministry said.

It expressed indignation at the fact that US government officials call the US-South Korean exercises regular and defensive, the ministry said.

In Washington’s view, “North Korea’s self-defense measures, including tactical missiles launches, pose a threat to the whole region and raise serious concern”, the ministry said, adding that this year the United States and South Korea would implement “their own deterrence strategy”.

The ministry warned that the implementation of this strategy would be a manifestation of “blackmail and nuclear threat”.