South Korea's military insisted Sunday it would not tolerate aggression from North Korea, with intelligence suggesting Pyongyang is gearing up for a sixth ever nuclear test.
Earlier in the day, North Korea threatened to attack without further warning as South Korean and American troops have been carrying out drills targeting Pyongyang's leadership in a war scenario.
“We will mercilessly trample on all their attempts with our own preemptive special operations and our own preemptive strikes," North Korea's military declared via official television outlet Korean Central TV.
Seoul responded through a Joint Chiefs of Staff statement carried by Yonhap News Agency.
“If the North provokes, our military will sternly retaliate as we have prepared and ensure such an action leads to self-destruction," the statement read.
Pyongyang has been upset by the presence of American commandos as part of ongoing joint military exercises in the South, although Seoul has long maintained such drills were defensive.
South Korean defense officials are also on alert for a North Korean nuclear test. Satellite imagery released by U.S. website 38 North Sunday showed a spike in recent activity at the reclusive state's test site.
The North was hit with stronger sanctions last year after conducting two nuclear tests, while Pyongyang has defied the United Nations with its unabated missile development.
