SEOUL: North Korean websites condemned the annual combined military training between South Korea and the United States on Thursday, calling it "war preparation."

South Korea and the United States reportedly began their combined springtime military training earlier this week, which does not include any field troop operations. Drills will go place till April 28.

In a remark posted on its website, Uriminzokkiri, a North Korean propaganda source, wrote, "This is a reckless, dangerous play with fires of war and an obvious drill for the invasion of the North, driving the Korean Peninsula's already fragile political situation to an extreme."

Inter-Korean ties and the political situation on the peninsula have been driven into "the worst state," the statement read.

It took issue with training as well as remarks by South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and Defense Minister Suh Wook about the possibility of launching a "pre-emptive attack" on North Korea if it became necessary for national security reasons.

Meari, another propaganda website, slammed the drills, claiming that their ultimate goal is to finalise plans for an invasion of the north. "The South Korean military's belligerent craziness has reached an apex," it claimed.  "The provocative military action being carried out by the South Korean military and the United States could result in a terrible event that no one can foresee."

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