exercise of a defensive nature and there is no intention of heightening military tensionons on the koren peninsulareporter: but pyongyang says the drills are a preparation for war, calling them the most explicit form of h hostility. nortrtkorea's ally china also condemns t the drills. >> the present situation on the korean peninsula is highly complicated, sensitive, and very f fragile. the parties directly involved in the issue need to make more practical efforts to ease the tensionsns and confrontations. we don't think south korea and the united states s holding joit drills is beneficial to easing current tensions. rereporter: thdrilills beganan running in 1970's, but thihis te it is fearared they may holdld e potential to provoke than ever. they come afteter north korea successfsfully tesested twoo intercontinental ballistic missiles in july and heated -- rhetoric between donald trumpp n kim jong-un which led to pyongyang threatening the u.s. territory of guam. the drills will run throrough august and invve m more than 67,000 troros and soldldiers frm south korea a and the u.s. they will be join