SEOUL -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday condemned the Freedom Shield military exercises conducted by the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) as "a rehearsal of war," warning that the DPRK may consider using "the most destructive and deadly military means" against them, reported the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday.

A DPRK Defense Ministry spokesperson lashed out at a special warfare drill aimed at "destroying the secret underground tunnel network" and "removing nuclear weapons" during the large-scale military exercises, calling the move proof that the exercises were "a rehearsal of war of aggression aimed at invading and occupying" the DPRK, according to the KCNA.

The spokesperson stressed that "as the military provocations of the hostile countries are committed at the grave level that can never be overlooked and tolerated," all options for "containing the United States and the ROK and for eliminating the source of provocation, if necessary, including the use of the most destructive and deadly military means," would be under the consideration of the DPRK's armed forces, said the KCNA.

The ROK and the United States concluded their 11-day Freedom Shield military exercises on Thursday, during which 51 joint outdoor maneuver exercises were conducted, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing ROK's Joint Chiefs of Staff.