A leading newspaper of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday condemned an impending US-led joint naval exercise, which it said is directed against the DPRK, warning the DPRK will react "with strong physical deterrent."  

The US, together with forces of its allies, are to hold a "joint naval exercise" in the waters off the Tokyo Bay, close to the Korean Peninsula, from October 26, the Minju Josun newspaper said in a signed commentary.

The joint exercise explicitly suggests that the US intends to "lay an international siege to the DPRK through naval blockade," the commentary said.

"The US, paying lip-service to 'peaceful solution to the nuclear issue' and talking about the resumption of the six-party talks (in Beijing), is a real criminal violating the sovereignty and right to existence of the sovereign countries by force of arms and disturbing peace," the commentary charged.

"The US and its allies had better stop acting rashly, properly understanding the determination of the army and the people of the DPRK to fight a life-and-death battle. Now that the US has entered the phase of actions to destroy the DPRK, the DPRK is left with other option but to counter them with strong physical deterrent," the commentary warned.

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2004)