North Korea has threatened to retaliate in "self-defense" if South Korea goes ahead with its live-fire drills from Yeonpyeong Island.

The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency says Friday that such a warning was given to the South's defense ministry to urge South Korea to cancel its scheduled drills.

The KCNA added that North Korea's second and third self-defensive military blows will be at a level that cannot be predicted. It also said that the North's firepower and the range of attack will be greater than that of those seen on November 23rd when North Korea shelled Yeonpyeong Island.

The South's defense ministry stated that South Korea does not find any reason to respond to each of the North's unreasonable claims and decided to not respond to North Korea's message.

South Korea had announced earlier that it would conduct its one-day drills sometime between Saturday and Tuesday.