North Korea warns US, says any military action against its weapon tests amounts to 'declaration of war'

North Korea has issued a stern warning to the United States and South Korea about taking military action against Pyongyang's weapon tests, saying any such move would amount to "declaration of war."

The warning came through a statement by Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which was carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, on Tuesday.

She also hinted that the North could fire more missiles into the Pacific Ocean in response to joint military drills by the US and its regional allies, saying, "The Pacific Ocean does not belong to the dominium of the US or Japan."

The remarks echoed her similar comments last month when she warned that Pyongyang might step up its military activities in response to increased presence of US' strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula.

"The frequency of using the Pacific as our firing range depends upon the US forces' action character," she added at that time.

Separately, North Korea's Foreign Ministry blamed recent aerial military exercises carried out by the South and the United States for "aggravation" of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.

This came after the US and South Korea held joint aerial exercises last month. The drills saw South Korea's F-35A, F-15K and US F-16 fighters escorting American B-1B bombers as means of demonstrating the two countries' defense capabilities and readiness posture.

The North conducted several missile launches throughout the past month, timing them around the aerial war games.

MG