SEOUL (TIP): South Korea and the United States began annual war games on Monday, US Forces Korea said, amid heated warnings by Pyongyang that the exercises will worsen tensions in the region.

Tens of thousands of troops are taking part in the “Ulchi Freedom Guardian” joint military drills, a largely computer-simulated exercise that runs for two weeks in the South.

They are described as defensive, but nuclear-armed Pyongyang views them as a highly provocative rehearsal for invasion. The drills come during a standoff on the peninsula since Pyongyang tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) last month that appeared to bring much of the US within range.

That sparked a grim warning by President Donald Trump that Washington could rain “fire and fury” on the North. Pyongyang threatened to fire a salvo of missiles towards the US territory of Guam — a plan that leader Kim Jong-Un last week delayed, but warned could go ahead depending on Washington’s next move.

While the allies are pushing ahead with the exercises that date back to 1976, around 17,500 US troops will participate in the drills — a cutback from last year.