North Korea's foreign ministry has issued a statement calling on the United States and South Korea to stop joint military drills.

The ministry demanded an immediate halt to the exercises that kicked off on Monday, which feature about 240 aircraft, including state-of-the-art stealth fighter jets. The air force drills, which last until Friday, are the largest of their kind involving the two countries since 2017.

The statement, dated on Monday, says the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in its vicinity has again entered a serious confrontation phase of power for power.

It says Pyongyang is ready to take all necessary measures, and that if the US continues with its provocative acts, North Korea will consider more powerful measures as its next step.
The ministry, however, doesn't specify what the measures will be.

North Korea launched ballistic missiles in September and October in an apparent move to counter the joint drills by Japan, the US and South Korea.

South Korea's intelligence agency warns that North Korea could conduct a seventh nuclear test ahead of the November 8 midterm elections in the US.