Kim Jong-un Calls US, South Korea and Japan Actions to Make Waters on the Korean Peninsula Unstable with the Danger of Nuclear War

JAKARTA - Kim Jong-un said the joint naval missile defense drills held by the United States, Japan and South Korea on Tuesday created the most unstable waters with the danger of nuclear war, wanting the North Korean navy to be alert.

The three countries conducted drills in international waters off South Korea's Jeju Island to improve their ability to detect and track targets, and share information in the event of a provocation by Pyongyang, the South Korean military said.

The drills come as Kim Jong-un calls for the modernization of his weapons and naval equipment, criticizing the increasing presence of US strategic assets in the region.

In his speech to mark Navy Day, Chairman Kim said the "gang bosses" of the United States, Japan and South Korea announced regular joint military exercises.

"Due to the reckless confrontational actions of the US and other enemy forces, the waters off the Korean Peninsula have become the world's largest concentration center of armaments, the most unstable waters with the danger of nuclear war," Leader Kim said as quoted by KCNA, August 29.

In the first independent meeting between the leaders of the US, South Korea and Japan, the three agreed to deepen military and economic cooperation, as they seek to project unity in the face of China's rising power and North Korea's nuclear threat.

Earlier, South Korea and the United States last week kicked off the summer 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' drills, designed to bolster a joint response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. Pyongyang has long denounced the drills as war games.

"The current situation requires our navy to exert all its efforts, in complete war readiness to maintain constant combat vigilance," Leader Kim stressed.

He also added that naval power would be part of the "nuclear deterrence of a state carrying out a strategic task".