DPRK Military warns of counterattack against S Korea' s naval drill

A US Marine Corps C-130 Hercules aircraft leads a formation of F/A-18C Hornet strike fighters and A/V-8B Harrier jets over the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the East Sea of Korea, July 27, 2010. The Republic of Korea and the United States are conducting the combined alliance maritime and air readiness exercise "Invincible Spirit" in the seas east of the Korean peninsula from July 25 - 28, 2010. This is the first in a series of joint military exercises that will occur over the coming months in the East and West Seas. Photo: Xinhua

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday warned it would take a military "physical counterattack" against the firing of South Korea during its naval exercise beginning Thursday, the official KCNA news agency reported.

In a statement, the commander of forces of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the western sector of the front said the DPRK military would take tough and powerful measures in response to the South Korean move, according to the KCNA report.

South Korea's military announced last Friday that it would conduct an anti-submarine exercise in the Yellow Sea from Aug. 5 to 9 in a bid to improve its defense capabilities.

The DPRK statement also asked all the civil boats including fishing boats not to enter the waters.

The projected firing exercises of South Korea was not "a pure exercise" but an "open military attack" to defend its "north border" by "dangerous political provocation," said the statement.