North Korea warned Friday that it would exercise its right to self-defense "more intensively" as it condemned recent joint air drills among South Korea, the United States and Japan.

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

North Korea’s foreign ministry issued a statement soon after U.S., South Korea and Japan held a joint military drill. Pyongyang condemned the drill and said it will respond by exercising right to self-defence more intensely.

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.