South Korea and the US hold joint military drills. Photo: Reuters

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried on the Korean Central News Agency on Monday that the situation on the Korean peninsula has entered a serious confrontation phase due to ceaseless military moves by the US and South Korea.

Yonhap News Agency said the US and South Korea have begun an air force exercise called Vigilant Storm amid concerns that North Korea will conduct a nuclear test for the first time since 2017.