North Korea puts army on 'special alert'

North Korea said today its military will be on “special alert” because of South Korea’s joint military drills with the US.

The communist nation’s army made the announcement on the same day that the country said it was restarting key reconciliation projects with South Korea, to reunite separated families and organise joint tourism.

The North’s army said its troops would go on “a special alert” starting today, when South Korean and US militaries planned to start annual computer-simulated war games.

The statement, carried by the country’s official Korean Central News Agency, said the North would retaliate mercilessly at the “slightest military provocation” from South Korea and the US.

The two allies said their manoeuvres are purely defensive.