North Korea reiterated its claim that the joint military drill between South Korea and the United States is practice for waging war on the North.

Ri Tong-il, Pyongyang's Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, called an emergency news conference at the UN headquarters in New York Monday, saying the U.S.'s claim that the drill is defensive in nature is a lie. He added that the drill is meant to prepare Washington and Seoul for an attack on the North.

Ri said that the U.S. is making clearer its intention to occupy North Korea and that Pyongyang has no alternative but to continue its own self-defense drills against such hostilities.

Ri also said that he re-submitted a letter to the UN Security Council, requesting the South Korea-U.S. joint military drill to be added to an emergency agenda. He also implied that the council discussing recent North Korean rocket launches is evidence that the council is heavily influenced by the United States.

The same request was made five days ago, but refused by the council.