PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) warned on Sunday that if the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) dared to launch aggression against it, they would be "mercilessly beaten" by the Korean People's Army (KPA).

In a report delivered at the national meeting at the People's Palace of Culture to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the founding of the KPA, Vice Marshal Kim Yong Chun said the army had already clarified its principled stand on coping with the increasingly reckless provocations by the US and ROK's authorities.

According to Kim, the US and ROK have staged military exercises for a surprise preemptive strike against the DPRK with nuclear means and thousands of troops involved.

Kim, also vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission and minister of the People's Armed Forces, warned that if they finally ignited a war against the DPRK, the armed forces would "give the fullest play to the inexhaustible might of the revolutionary strong army to wipe out the aggressors at one blow and achieve the historic cause of national reunification without fail."