SEOUL, October 8 (Itar-Tass) - The North Korean army is placed on alert to be ready to begin combat actions at any time in response to the U.S.-South Korean manoeuvres that begin in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, North Korea’s central news agency reports.

The Korean People's Army is ordered to attentively watch actions of American and Japanese aggressors and the South Korean regime to be ready to begin combat actions at any moment, a North Korean general staff official said in a statement published on Tuesday in response to the U.S., Japanese and South Korean manoeuvres in the Sea of Japan with the participation of the George Washington aircraft carrier.