North Korea condemned on Friday joint military drills between South Korea, Japan and the United States held this week, threatening to respond by exercising its right to self-defence "more intensively".

North Korea on Friday slammed the US and South Korean joint air drills over the Korean peninsula. “North Korea will resolutely deter any attempt at military provocation by the hostile forces and firmly defend the security interests of the state,” said a Foreign Ministry statement.

North Korea’s foreign ministry issued a statement soon after U.S., South Korea and Japan held a joint military drill. Pyongyang condemned the drill and said it will respond by exercising right to self-defence more intensely.