North Korea is threatening to attack if the U.S. and South Korea go ahead with joint military drills later this month.
An army spokesman warned in a statement carried in official media on Thursday that North Korean troops are prepared to “mercilessly destroy” its foes and could even use nuclear means.
The warning comes hours after President Barack Obama’s special envoy to North Korea arrived in Seoul from Beijing to discuss how to restart nuclear disarmament talks.
The joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises begin on March 8.
