Seoul, Feb 28 (AFP) The US and South Korean militaries today launched major annual land, sea and air exercises, amid North Korean threats to turn Seoul into a “sea of flames” in case of any provocation.

The Key Resolve/Foal Eagle drills are the first to be held since the North’s deadly artillery attack on a South Korean border island last November.

The US and South Korea said the exercise is defensive in nature but North Korea habitually denounces it as a rehearsal for invasion.

“If the aggressors launch provocation for a ‘local war’ the world will witness unprecedented all-out counteraction on the part of the army and people of the DPRK (North Korea),” its military said yesterday.

“It will also see such merciless counteraction as engulfing Seoul in sea of flames, whereby to smash every move for confrontation with unimaginable strategy and tactics.