North Korea has vowed to counter the annual US-South Korea joint military exercises with hardline measures. North Korea's General Staff of the Korean People's Army said in a statement that if a single sparkle should be dropped on its territory, a military response will be instantly unleashed. <br/><br/>The North threatens to continuously bolster self-defense and pre-emptive capabilities centered on nuclear force unless the exercises are halted. The 2-month-long joint military exercises started in South Korea yesterday. <br/><br/>The exercises, aimed at dealing with situations on the Korean Peninsula include landing operations by marines of both countries and computer simulations.<br/><br/>During the exercises last year, the North launched ballistic missiles with various ranges.

North Korea has vowed to counter the annual US-South Korea joint military exercises with hardline measures. In a statement, the North's General Staff of the Korean People's Army said if a single sparkle should be dropped on its territory, a military response will be instantly unleashed. <br/><br/>The North threatens to continuously bolster self-defense and pre-emptive capabilities centered on nuclear force unless the exercises are halted. <br/><br/>The 2-month-long joint military exercises, aimed at dealing with situations on the Korean Peninsula, started in South Korea yesterday. The exercises include landing operations by marines of both countries and computer simulations.<br/><br/>During the exercises last year, the North launched ballistic missiles with various ranges.