N Korea places troops on combat alert

Image: North Korean Army soldiers, wearing brown uniforms, march as South Korean soldiers and a US Army soldier (in gray uniform) look on at the border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas, north of Seoul, Friday, March 6, 2009. Senior military officials from North Korea and the US-led UN Command in S Korea opened talks at the border Friday, a day after the North threatened passenger planes flying near its airspace. (Copyright AP. Any unauthorised reproduction is prohibited.)

Seoul: North Korean troops have gone on combat alert in response to annual US-South Korean manoeuvres, the country's official news agency reported.

The North Korean Army's Supreme Command vowed massive retaliation against the US and South Korean forces if Pyongyang's land, sea or air spaces are violated during the military exercises.

The joint manoeuvres began on Monday.

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