In a decision that may put the Pacific region on a hot plate and increase the risk of a nuclear war if one of the parties miscalculates the situation, South Korea and the United States decided on Friday to extend the air exercises called "hodguk-22" or "vigilant storm" for an additional day until Saturday،

The decision to extend the massive exercises, to which the northern neighbor has responded by launching a barrage of missiles and rockets over the past two days, was announced by South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-SUP, who is visiting Washington, to attend the security consultative meeting between the two countries.

During a press conference with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on Thursday night, sup said that the two allies decided to extend the exercises, which have been going on for 12 days, in response to North Korea's continued provocative actions.

According to the US Air Force statement, the air forces of the two countries "will work together with the joint services to perform key air missions, such as close air support, defensive counter-air and 24-hour emergency air operations during the period of the exercises".

"The support forces on the ground will also conduct exercises on the procedures for defending their base, and their ability to survive in the event of an attack,"the statement added.

North Korea has repeatedly condemned the drills, calling them a" rehearsal for an invasion " and proof that Washington and Seoul are taking a hostile stance against Pyongyang.

Commenting on the extension of those exercises, a senior North Korean official said on Thursday that the United States and South Korea made a serious mistake by deciding to extend the "wake-up storm" beyond the original schedule, thereby pushing tensions in the region to an uncontrollable stage.

Pak Jong Chun, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers ' Party of North Korea, added in a statement reported by the North Korean news agency, immediately after the announcement of the extension of the schedule of exercises, that it was "a very dangerous and wrong choice".

"America and South Korea will recognize the grave mistake they made,"Chun continued.