A US military U2 reconnaissance aircraft lands at the Osan US military air base south of Seoul on March 6, 2016. (Photo: AFP)

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry called the joint military drills dangerous war rehearsals which fully reveal their aggressive nature. If a war breaks out, it will not be limited to the peninsula nor be a conventional war, the Ministry said, suggesting it will be a nuclear war. North Korea will turn its defensive activities into an all-out offense as the situation has reached an uncontrollable grave phase.

The Philippine Coast Guard is closely watching North Korea’s vessel Jin Teng and the 21 sailors on board while awaiting the UN’ reaction now that the UN has imposed further sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear activities. The vessel has been inspected twice, once using electronic sensors to search for weapons. Several UN inspectors will soon arrive in the Philippines to re-inspect the Jin Teng.