People in North Korea staged a series of anti-US rallies in the lead-up to Saturday, which marks 72 years since the start of the Korean War. It is the first time in five years that the North has reported that such rallies have taken place.

The war broke out on June 25, 1950. Pyongyang designates the occasion as the day of the struggle against the United States.

The Saturday edition of the ruling party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, ran an editorial titled "The spirit of protecting the homeland is a weapon of victory."

The newspaper also reported on anti-US rallies that took place in the capital, Pyongyang, on Thursday and Friday.

In Friday's demonstration, university students and other participants accused the United States of continuing war drills to invade North Korea. They went on to say that if the United States blows the clouds of war onto their homeland, they will mercilessly conquer it.

The anti-US rallies appear to be the first since 2018, when leaders of the two countries held their first-ever summit. Since then, Pyongyang has taken a more hostile stance toward Washington as a stand-off between the two over Pyongyang's nuclear program has intensified.

The United States has also been working with Japan and South Korea to strengthen their deterrence capabilities.

Earlier this year, North Korea resumed intercontinental ballistic missiles launches. It has also been accelerating its nuclear and missile development programs.