North Korea Condemns Japan-South Korea Defense Cooperation, Considered to Threaten Regional Stability

JAKARTA - The North Korean government criticized the defense cooperation between Japan and South Korea, calling it "an act that could lead to destruction" and endangering security stability on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, July 9, reported that the criticism was made in a comment published by the Institute for Enemy State Studies.

The institute warned of plans to sign an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between Tokyo and Seoul.

According to the agency, the agreement will be the "final stage of the formation of a military alliance" between the two countries.

ACSA is an agreement that facilitates the exchange of logistical support, such as food, fuel, and ammunition, between the two countries' armed forces, thus strengthening defense cooperation.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung previously called the agreement a practical necessity.

Lee acknowledged that there is still public sentiment in South Korea regarding Japan's history in past wars.

In his comments, North Korea also mentioned a number of forms of defense cooperation between the two countries, including refueling support by the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force to South Korean military aircraft during a visit to Japan in January, as well as a joint search and rescue (SAR) exercise held in June.

North Korea considers the increasingly close defense relationship between Japan and South Korea as part of efforts to strengthen trilateral cooperation with the United States.

"There will never be any change to the absolute defense structure without retreat built on the Korean Peninsula by the country with the strongest nuclear weapons," the agency commented.