The United States is denying North Korea's accusations that a joint South Korea-U.S. military drill is a provocation.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters Thursday that the drills scheduled for next week are defensive exercises meant to improve the two nations’ ability to work together as allies and are not meant as a provocation.

Crowley said actions by North Korea, including the sinking of the “Cheonan” naval ship, are the kinds of provocative steps that do in fact pose a threat to security and stability in the region. He added that the North has a habit of trying to deflect responsibility onto others.

Crowley’s remarks came after a spokesman for the North Korean delegation at regional talks in Hanoi denounced the upcoming military exercises, saying such moves pose a great threat not only to the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula but also to global peace and security.

Asked if Pyongyang is capable of seeking further provocations, Crowley said that “tragically, the answer is yes.” He said that the very kind of actions that Washington has announced in recent days, including the joint military exercises that will be conducted in the near future, are expressly to demonstrate that the U.S. will be prepared to act in response to future North Korean provocations.