SOUTH KOREAN officials said today that planned military drills with the United States should not raise tensions with North Korea, following a strong warning from Pyongyang.

Defence Ministry spokesman Boo Seung Chan told reporters that details of the joint exercises had not been finalised, with “close consultations taking into account related situations.”

Spokesman for South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, Lee Jong Joo said that the military exercises “should not be used as a chance to heighten tensions on the Korean peninsula under any circumstances. Efforts will be made in that direction going forward.”