Seoul  - North Korea on Thursday indirectly threatened to shoot down South Korean passenger aircraft in its airspace, amid growing tension on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea made the threat as the United States and South Korea prepared to undertake joint military exercises next Monday.

North Korea could no longer guarantee the safety of civilian aircraft flying in or near its airspace over the Sea of Japan, the committee said in a statement released by state media. (dpa)