The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday warned it would take a military "physical counterattack" against the firing of South Korea during its naval exercise beginning Thursday, the official KCNA news agency reported.

In a statement, the commander of forces of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the western sector of the front said the DPRK military would take tough and powerful measures in response to the South Korean move, according to the KCNA report.

South Korea's military announced last Friday that it would conduct an anti-submarine exercise in the Yellow Sea from Aug. 5 to 9 in a bid to improve its defense capabilities.

The DPRK statement also asked all the civil boats including fishing boats not to enter the waters.

The projected firing exercises of South Korea was not "a pure exercise" but an "open military attack" to defend its "north border" by "dangerous political provocation," said the statement.