North Korea set for major military drill: South

SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea is preparing for a large-scale military drill in an apparent show of force against ongoing joint South Korea-US exercises, the South's defence ministry said on Monday.

The army, navy and air force drill is planned as a follow-up to the North's nuclear test last month and a successful long-range rocket launch in December, ministry spokesman Kim Min Seok told reporters.

"We are seeing more evidence of the North's preparations for a conventional military drill to be staged on a far bigger scale than before, following the missile and nuclear tests," Mr Kim said.

Large numbers of US and South Korean troops are currently holding an annual joint air, ground and naval field training exercise, which North Korea has denounced as a provocative rehearsal for invasion.