North Korea has denounced a major joint exercise planned by the South Korean and US militaries as “direct military provocation” and warned of counteraction, despite signs of easing tension across the border under a new leader in Seoul.

Axar.az informs, citing Reuters, North Korea’s Defense Minister No Kwang Chol said its military has an “absolute mission” to defend national security against the large-scale 11-day drills by South Korea and the United States, which he said posed a real and dangerous threat.

“The armed forces of the DPRK will cope with the war drills of the US and the (South) with thoroughgoing and resolute counteraction posture and strictly exercise the sovereign right,” No said in a statement issued via the KCNA state news agency on Monday.

No said the drills staged under the pretext of defense against threats were additional proof of the confrontational intent by the two countries that raises hostility and further destabilizes regional security.