(VOVworld) – On Thursday, Pyongyang criticized the upcoming live-fire military drill conducted by the US and the Republic of Korea and vowed to retaliate against the two countries.

USS Blue Ridge (R), the command ship of the US 7th Fleet, joined the Ulchi Freedom Guardian set for August 18-29, 2014. (File photo: Yonhap)

Pyongyang made the statement after both Seoul and Washington announced plans to begin the annual 2-week military exercises, titled the ‘Ulchi Freedom Guardian’, next Tuesday.

Pyongyang called the drill a rehearsal in preparations for an aggressive war against North Korea.

According to a statement by the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, Pyongyang is ready to respond to any forms of attack and was strong enough to conduct a nuclear war provoked by the US, adding that Seoul was capable of attacking the North’s heavy weapons with high accuracy.