North Korea threatens US, South Korea of pre-emptive nuclear attack

North Korea on Monday warned of preemptive nuclear attacks against the US and South Korea as its joint military exercises are scheduled to kick off later in the day.

North Korea's national defence commission said in a statement carried by state media KCNA that the army and people of North Korea "will make military counter-action for preemptive attack" and "launch an all-out offensive" to cope with joint military drills conducted by South Korean and the US troops.

North Korea's military counter-action will be "more preemptive and offensive nuclear strike" to cope with the enemies' "most undisguised nuclear war drills aimed to infringe upon the sovereignty of the DPRK", the statement stressed.