A protester holds a poster during a rally against joint ROK-US military exercises in front of the command center for the drills in Seongnam, near Seoul, on Monday. Truth Leem / Reuters

BEIJING - Washington and Seoul began their annual joint military drill on Monday despite Pyongyang's threats to retaliate, renewing tension on the divided Korean Peninsula.

Nearly 13,000 US troops and 200,000 Republic of Korea (ROK) forces have been mobilized in the air, land and sea exercises, which the US military characterized as "entirely defensive in nature", but were regarded by Pyongyang as warmongering.

Rodong Sinmun, the main newspaper of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said on Monday that the latest ROK-US joint military exercises increased tensions on the peninsula and dented efforts to restore stability.

A commentary carried by the newspaper said all provocations and military threats should be stopped, adding that ROK-US military exercises are one of the main causes of the deterioration of the situation on the peninsula.

If Seoul persists with its "aggressive policy", it must take all responsibility for any consequences, the commentary warned.

On Sunday, the Korean People's Army of the DPRK issued a statement, saying it would take resolute military measures to respond to the exercises.

However, the ROK and the United States went ahead with the drill, their first major combined military exercises since the ROK and the DPRK exchanged fire last November. The Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises will run until April 30.

Gong Yuzhen, a military expert and professor at Peking University, said the US and ROK aim to enhance their control of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and maintain a tough stance through military exercises.

"The DPRK's strong reaction is of no surprise, as defensively it is still in a disadvantageous position," Gong said

"Though as it is, the DPRK is unlikely to go too far and reach the breaking point for a war."

Jin Canrong, vice-dean of the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China said, a military drill in such hostile circumstances is not conducive to regional stability.

As the ROK has set this year as the first year to start preparations for unification, it may stop waiting for changes to happen in the DPRK and actively promote them, said Jin.

"Both the DPRK and the ROK are now engaged in 'brinkmanship', which is a very dangerous game, as chaos in the DPRK will not necessarily lead to the result the ROK expects," he said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

China Daily