North Korea vows 'toughest counteraction' following joint South Korea-US drillsbr br North Korea's foreign ministry vowed the "toughest counteraction" against the United States as long as Washington "refuses" Pyongyang's sovereignty, state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday, January 26.br br The military alliance and joint drills between South Korea and the US were to blame for the growing tensions in the region, the ministry said in a statement carried by KCNA.br br The statement came as US President Donald Trump said during an interview on Thursday, January 23, that he would reach out to North Korea leader Kim Jong Un again after the two developed a working relationship in Trump's first term.