North Korea renews threat to target Guam ahead of joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises

North Korea renewed its threat to the American Pacific territory of Guam on Friday as the U.S. and South Korean militaries geared up for 10 days of joint naval exercises set to kick off next week.

The drills "to promote communications, interoperability, and partnership" are scheduled to take place in the waters to South Korea's east and west and will involve the Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture-based USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement.

The exercises — the latest show of force by the U.S. and its allies — will come amid soaring tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea that has seen Washington ramp up its deployment of so-called strategic military assets to the region.