The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has ordered its troops to be ready for a war against the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK), the official KCNA said on Monday.

The order, released by the supreme command of the Korean People's Army (KPA), targeted the U.S.- ROK joint military exercises set to begin on Monday. KCNA said that the KPA will deal "merciless retaliatory blows" on the U.S. and ROK troops should the latter intrude upon the DPRK during the drills.

"There is no limit to the retaliatory measure of the KPA and no one can predict or evade it," KCNA quoted the order as saying.

The order said that the joint military exercises, in a larger scale than ever, were meant to declare a war against the DPRK.

The annual drills, code-named the Key Resolve and the Foal Eagle, are set to be conducted in the ROK from March 9 to 20. About 26,000 U.S. and ROK troops will take part in the war games.

Editor: Yan