North Korea says it will enhance its nuclear deterrent, blasting the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises set to open on Monday.

The North’s official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday called the planned drills “nuclear war exercises”, which it said justify the North’s move to possess a nuclear deterrent.

In earlier statements, the North accused Seoul and Washington of planning a surprise attack under the guise of military drills. The Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North’s Workers' Party of Korea, said that the North will strengthen its nuclear deterrent.

The Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise, an annual joint military drill to prepare for an emergency on the Korean Peninsula, will be held from March 8th to 18th in South Korea.