South Korea will send a delegation of foreign and defense ministry officials to observe a U.S.-led anti-proliferation drill that is under way in Abu Dhabi, an official said Monday.

Code-named "Leading Edge 2013," the two-week drill that started Sunday is aimed at improving international cooperation to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The South Korean delegation, which will also include maritime police and customs officers, will head for Abu Dhabi later this week, the foreign ministry official said on the condition of anonymity.

"Our participation is aimed at strengthening cooperation among members of the Proliferation Security Initiative on monitoring and intercepting illicit weapons," the official said, referring to the Washington-led initiative to work with other navies and air forces to monitor and intercept ships or aircraft suspected of ferrying illicit materials to rogue nations or to terrorists.

The official declined to comment on how many South Korean officials would observe the anti-proliferation exercise.

Tensions are high on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea threatened to conduct a third nuclear test in retaliation to a U.N. Security Council resolution that widened sanctions against Pyongyang for its December rocket launch.

North Korea has also warned that it will take "strong physical countermeasures" against South Korea if Seoul takes part in the toughened U.N. sanctions. (Yonhap News)