North Korea condemned on Friday joint military drills between South Korea, Japan and the United States held this week, threatening to respond by exercising its right to self-defense "more intensively".

Japanese and South Korean fighters escorted U.S. bombers in the first air power demonstration of the year by the three countries.

North Korea warned Friday it will "more intensively" exercise the right to self-defense, denouncing South Korea, the United States and Japan for staging combined air drills, involving U.S. B-1B bombers.