North Korea's army said Monday it is ready to "blow up" South Korea and the U.S., hours after the allies kicked off annual military drills that Pyongyang has slammed as a rehearsal for attack.

Drag-flicker Jong Hyun Jang struck thrice as nimble-footed South Korea drubbed lowly Canada 9-2 in a high scoring match to keep their semifinal hopes alive in the hockey World Cup in New Delhi on Sunday.

North Korea threatened a "powerful" attack if the US and South Korea proceed with joint military drills next month, warning today that it could even resort to nuclear means.

North Korea warned South Korea on Monday that any attempt to bring down the communist country would draw "strong measures" from its military, a threat issued even as Pyongyang embarked on a flurry of diplomacy with Seoul, Washington and Beijing.

Officials from the two Koreas met on Monday in North Korea to discuss their joint industrial complex just days after a gunfire exchange at sea emphasized the fragility of the peace between them.