North Korea on Monday condemned joint U.S.-South Korean military drills as a "provocative act," warning of the danger of sparking war with "an accidental single shot," days after Seoul's air force mistakenly bombed a village on its own territory.

The North Korea Foreign Ministry said U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises are "a dangerous provocative act," state media KCNA reported on Monday. Annual South Korean and U.S. military exercises called Freedom Shield are due to begin on Monday and run until March 20.

North Korea condemned an upcoming U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise Friday, saying that "counteraction is inevitable" and warning that the allies would "pay dearly."

South Korea's military says it has suspended the training flights of air force aircraft and all live-fire drills after two fighter jets accidentally bombed a civilian area.

The first of two large-scale military exercises carried out each year by the U.S. and South Korea will proceed as planned next month, despite “internal and external uncertainties,” the South’s acting president said this week.

South Korean and U.S. troops will begin their large annual joint military drills next week to enhance their readiness against North Korean threats.

North Korea condemns US-South Korea military exercises, warning of accidental war escalation following a recent South Korean training mishap.