SEOUL – The DPRK has stepped up its criticism of the annual U.S.-ROK Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) military exercises, decrying the “nuclear threats” they say are behind the new U.S. and South Korea “tailored deterrence” strategy.

North Korea typically voices its opposition to the joint drills, which began Monday, but state media said it takes greater offense this year.

“The U.S. is becoming all the more undisguised in its criminal moves to disturb peace and ignite a nuclear war through a vicious cycle of tensions on the Korean (P)eninsula and in the region,” a spokesman for DPRK Foreign Ministry said