The General Staff of the Korean People's Army has warned the United States of "disastrous consequences" if it conducts a planned joint naval exercise with the South, North Korean state news reported Tuesday.

In a statement on Monday the North said it was responding to the October 4 moving of several U.S. Navy ships – including a "nuclear-powered" aircraft carrier – into the South Korean port of Busan and "large-scale joint naval strike maneuvers" by South Korea and the U.S. which start on Tuesday.