South Korea's military issued a strong warning Wednesday against North Korea, saying any direct provocation would expedite the "collapse of its dictatorial system."

In a statement, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) vowed to sternly retaliate if the North carries out its threat of attack on the South.

"Should (North Korea) ignore our advice and press ahead with provocations, we will make it bitterly regret through stern retaliation," the JCS said.

It stressed that the North will have to take all the responsibility for all the consequences of its reckless provocations.

The JSC added it cannot condone Pyongyang's repeated threats of provocations when the international community condemns the North's recent nuclear and long-range tests, and seeks punitive measures for them.

On Tuesday night, the Supreme Command of the North's People's Army threatened to strike the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae and U.S. military installations in the Asia-Pacific region.

It was denouncing South Korea's plan to start a large-scale joint military exercise with the United States early next month.

The North Korean military also vowed to use all possible measures to counter any attempts to kill its leader and collapse its regime, calling the planned allied drills "the height of hostile acts."

Seoul's Unification Ministry also took umbrage at Pyongyang's renewed threat, blasting the communist regime for not showing any signs of contrition for its recent provocations that sharply raised tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"The government strongly urges North Korea to halt its provocative behavior that could drive itself toward its own downfall," ministry spokesperson Jeong Joon-hee said during a press briefing.

Meanwhile, Uriminzokkiri, the North's main propaganda website, described the first three years of the Park Geun-hye administration's management of state affairs as "days replete with sins," accusing Seoul of driving cross-border relations toward a "devastating end."

"Crazy about fomenting confrontation among Koreans, submitting to the stronger and fascism, the three years, marked by various criminal atrocities, were full of sins," the website said, referring to Park as a "rare wicked woman."

The website also denounced Seoul for "damaging autonomy and dignity of Koreans" by siding with foreign forces. (Yonhap)