North Korea claims that US-South Korea drills pose a "accidental" conflict risk.

SEOUL: Days after Seoul's air force unintentionally bombed a hamlet on its own soil, North Korea denounced joint US-South Korean military exercises on Monday as a "provocative act" and warned of the risk of starting a conflict with "an accidental single shot."

 "This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot," according to a statement from Pyongyang's foreign ministry obtained by state media.

 "Live, virtual, and field-based training" will be part of the joint US-South Korea "Freedom Shield 2025" exercise, which was scheduled to begin Monday, according to a US statement.

 According to the announcement, the drill will continue until March 21.