The comment came after North and South Korea, the United States and China on Saturday struck a deal aimed at moving the tense Korean peninsula closer to permanent peace.

The North, in a signed commentary in its Rodong Sinmun newspaper -- one of the most authoritative forms of message from the Stalinist regime -- accused the allies of honing their preparations to attack Pyongyang instead of promoting peace.

``Such military moves are a revelation of their criminal design to stifle (North Korea) at any cost with strength,'' the commentary relayed by the Korean central news agency said.

``We cannot remain a passive onlooker to their attempt to finally examine and perfect war preparations against the DPRK (North Korea) and unleash another war any moment,'' it warned.

It noted that the Foal-Eagle `98manoeuvres -- aimed at thwarting a possible attack from the North -- were due to start immediately after the Geneva four-party peace talks ended on Saturday.