Seoul: Exercise by the United States and its allies has brought the situation to an "extremely red-line" and risks turning the peninsula into a "huge war arsenal and more important battle zone", according to North Korea's foreign ministry. 

According to the statement, which was published by state news agency KCNA, Pyongyang was not open to talks as long as Washington continued its aggressive policies.

An unnamed ministry spokesman said in the statement that "the military and political situation on the Korean Peninsula and the region has reached an extreme red-line due to reckless military confrontation maneuvers and hostile acts by the US and its vassal forces."

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According to North Korea's foreign ministry, the exercises by the United States and its allies have brought the situation to an "extremely red-line" and risk turning the peninsula into a "huge war arsenal and more important battle zone".

According to the statement, which was published by state news agency KCNA, Pyongyang was not open to talks as long as Washington continued its aggressive policies.

An unnamed ministry spokesman said in the statement that "the military and political situation on the Korean Peninsula and the region has reached an extreme red-line due to reckless military confrontation maneuvers and hostile acts by the US and its vassal forces."

"It is a vivid expression of the US dangerous landscape that will turn the Korean Peninsula into a vast war arsenal and a more important battle field," the North Korean statement said.

According to the statement, North Korea has a strong counter-strategy and will respond to any military action by the United States, including with "the heaviest nuclear force" if necessary.

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As a result of the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953 and ended by an armistice rather than a peace treaty, more than 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea.

"We deny any suggestion that the joint exercises we conduct with regional partners are in any way provocative. These are routine exercises that are fully consistent with prior exercises," the White House statement said.

Ballistic missile tests, which are prohibited by UN Security Council resolutions, were carried out by North Korea in a record number of times last year. It was also seen reopening its nuclear weapons test facility, sparking hopes of the country's first test since 2017.

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Wednesday and urged the organization to continue paying attention to recent provocations by North Korea and to continue efforts to impose sanctions on the hermit state.

According to Park's office, Guterres reiterated his support for establishing a long-lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and said that continuing North Korea's nuclear testing would be a devastating blow to regional and global security.

Park will meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Friday as part of a four-day visit to the US. The US and South Korea conducted a joint aerial exercise on Wednesday using B-1B heavy bombers, F-22 stealth fighters and F-35 jets from both countries, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry.

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The United States has demonstrated its willingness and ability to provide strong and credible extended deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, according to a Defense Department statement.