(VOVworld) - North Korea has warned of a pre-emptive strike as it blasted upcoming joint United States-South Korean military exercises as a rehearsal for a war against North Korea.

South Korean soldiers prepare  for the 2011 Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise in Seoul (photo: nti.org)

Speaking on the central TV on Sunday, a spokesman for the Supreme Commander of the North Korean People's Army said the military exercises involved tens of thousands of South Korean and US troops puts the Korean peninsular in a dangerous situation. He said Pyongyang will mercilessly open the strongest, pre-emptive strike of their own style any time at their discretion. South Korea and the United States will conduct the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian drill on August 18-21.