North Korea has slammed large-scale U.S.-ROK military drills this week as a “prelude to nuclear war,” while claiming that Washington is setting the stage for a “third World War” by supporting Ukraine as it pushes into Russian territory.

The claims in a pair of statements by the DPRK’s foreign ministry on Sunday represent Pyongyang’s latest effort to seize on current events to brand America as a disruptor of world peace, warning that such “provocations” will result in the “total destruction” of the U.S. and its allies.