PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has "limited" restraint over Republic of Korea's "military provocation" and would mete out harsh punishment for further aggressive moves, an official daily said Monday.

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Peace on the Korean Peninsula is under serious threat as the United States and ROK have been "colluding" to stage repeated anti-DPRK military provocations, Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary.

The United States, said the official newspaper of the DPRK's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, is the very troublemaker that has instigated ROK to carry out military provocations and escalate the tension on the divided peninsula.

Washington is attempting to ensure its hegemony on the peninsula and profit from tension and confrontation, the commentary said, adding that it was the United States and Japan who benefited from the Nov 23 exchange of artillery fire between the DPRK and ROK near Yonphyong Island.

Meanwhile, it was the restraint of the peace-loving DPRK that prevented ROK's frequent military provocations from escalating into military conflicts, the commentary stressed.

The United States and ROK, however, should not underestimate the DPRK's resolution to defend peace and must immediately stop their military provocation, it added.

Since the Yonphyong shelling, which left four people of ROK dead, tension on the Korean Peninsula has tangibly mounted. ROK has staged several military exercises, and is expected to hold its latest maritime firing drill from Monday through Friday.