North Korea warns of 'merciless strike' against the U.S

On Sunday, North Korea warned that the upcoming US-South Korea military exercises are "reckless behavior driving the current situation into the uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war."

With that, Pyongyang declared that its army can target the United States anytime, and neither Guam, Hawaii nor the US mainland can "dodge the merciless strike."

The messages in Rodong Sinmun, the official government newspaper, come a day before the US starts the Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercises with South Korea.

However, the US military and Trump administration officials said the 10-day military exercises set to begin today, would go ahead as scheduled. The annual drills antagonize Pyongyang, which sees them as practice for an invasion. But the US and South Korea maintain they are purely defensive.