North Korea conducted artillery firing drills, state-run media reported Tuesday, as the United States and South Korea prepare to kick off a joint military exercise.

The drills, which will kick off next week, are a "direct military provocation" against North Korea, Pyongyang said.

Seoul, South Korea - South Korea's military said Saturday it detected North Korea removing some of its loudspeakers from the inter-Korean border, days after the South dismantled its own front-line speakers used for anti-North Korean propaganda broadcasts, in a bid to ease tensions.