Under the threat to its sovereignty and security, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has no choice but to build up its military power, said the official Rodong Sinmun daily on Monday.

Claiming "dialogues" with the DPRK on the one hand, the US takes hard line against it on the other hand by holding military maneuvers on the Korean Peninsula, said a commentary carried by the newspaper.

The US should drop its anti-DPRK policy and stop military drill against the DPRK, and furthermore change the armistice into a peace treaty, it added.

The US and South Korea began Monday their massive annual joint military drill, codenamed Ulchi Freedom Guardian, in which about 56, 000 South Korean troops and 10,000 US soldiers will participate.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)