The United States has warned North Korea not to mess with South Korea, even as Pyongyang renewed its long-standing demand that Washington abandon its 'hostile policy' toward it.

Washington's warning came even as American and South Korean forces ended their highly publicized joint military drills with a volley of shots.

South Korean Rear Admiral Kim Kyung-sik said the US and South Korea were now "better prepared to respond to any challenge".

Admiral Kim "sent a strong warning to North Korea that its aggressive behavior won't be forgiven," with the two sides "enhancing our combined defense capabilities."

Although North Korea did not make good on threats to challenge the exercises militarily, skeptics see the war games as sharpening a sense of confrontation in the region while setting back peace and reconciliation efforts between the two Koreas. (ANI)