Pyongyang: North Korea on Tuesday accused the United States, Japan, and South Korea of creating “a new security crisis” in the Asia-Pacific through expanded military cooperation, warning it would respond with stronger deterrence measures.
According to TRTworld.com, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) carried a commentary by a military commentator who claimed that the three countries were enhancing their joint warfighting capabilities through large-scale military exercises. These exercises included the recent US-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) drills.
Pyongyang reported that this year’s RIMPAC involved more than 30,000 personnel, over 30 warships, five submarines, and nearly 190 aircraft. North Korea described the exercise as a rehearsal for “aggression” and accused Washington of pursuing military dominance in the region with support from Tokyo and Seoul.
The commentator also criticized recent US-South Korea air and logistics drills, plans to strengthen US command structures in Japan, and the deployment of advanced US missile systems. They warned that North Korea would respond to “a threat of a new level with a deterrence of a new level.”
In a separate statement, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry dismissed recent US-led accusations that Pyongyang poses a cyber threat, labeling them “groundless” and politically motivated. A ministry spokesperson accused the United States of militarizing cyberspace through cyber commands, joint exercises, and artificial intelligence initiatives, arguing that it was Washington, not Pyongyang, responsible for escalating tensions in the digital domain.
North Korea affirmed its commitment to safeguarding national security and development interests against what it described as Western pressure.