American artillery brigade soldiers participating in the U.S.-South Korea joint Ulchi Freedom Guardian drill take a break at a training ground in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, June 19, 2018. Korea Times file

A North Korean propaganda outlet on Wednesday lashed out at military exercises that South Korea plans to conduct on its own without U.S. troops, even though Seoul and Washington have scaled back their joint drills as part of efforts to keep the dialogue mood with the North alive.

In a commentary, Uriminzokkiri said the South Korean military's Ssangyong and Ulchi Taegeuk exercises are a "vicious challenge" to hopes for peace and a violation of the agreements reached between the two Koreas.

The Ulchi Taegeuk exercise slated for late May is designed to replace the summertime South Korea-U.S. military training as part of efforts to support diplomacy for denuclearization.

The U.S. has also decided not to send any troops or equipment to this year's annual combined regiment-level Ssangyong amphibious landing exercise next month, apparently to facilitate ongoing talks with the North.