Criticism Of US Military Drills With South Korea And Japan As An Asian-style NATO, North Korea: Strengthens Defense All-out

JAKARTA - North Korea accused the United States of forming military alliances such as NATO in Asia, by holding joint military exercises with Japan and South Korea, requiring them to develop stronger defenses.

The North Korean criticism comes amid fears Pyongyang may be preparing for its first nuclear test in five years, following a recent agreement between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden to deploy more US weapons if deemed necessary to deter North Korea.

"While openly holding joint military exercises with Japan and South Korea, the United States is making full steps towards establishing an Asian-style NATO," North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement.

It refers to recent military exercises conducted by United States, South Korean and Japanese forces. Washington is also holding exercises with Seoul forces that for the first time in more than four years involve a US aircraft carrier

North Korea, which has carried out regular missile tests this year, reiterated its assertion that such drills were preparation for a war aimed at overthrowing it.

"This proves the hypocrisy of US rhetoric about 'diplomatic engagement' and 'dialogue without preconditions', while at the same time revealing again that there is no change in US ambitions to overthrow our system by force," the ministry said.

It did not refer explicitly to its nuclear or missile programs but said US hostility forced it to expand its defenses.

"In fact, it makes us feel the need to make all-out efforts to develop a stronger force, to be able to subdue all kinds of hostile acts by the United States," the ministry said.

The United States has insisted North Korea give up its nuclear weapons, repeatedly offering to meet with North Korean officials at any time without preconditions, to discuss the issue. North Korea has rejected the offer.

The North's criticism came a day before the South Korean president left to attend a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit in Spain, making him the first South Korean leader to do so.

South Korea, aiming to strengthen its partnership with NATO and play a larger global security role, plans to form a delegation to NATO at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, South Korea's national security adviser said last week.