SEOUL, Korea, Republic of — North Korea on Sunday denounced the United States, South Korea and Japan for their intention to strengthen their military cooperation of which it says it is the target.
The North Korean regime has warned that this decision by the allied countries will force it to urgently strengthen its military capacity.
North Korea has repeatedly cited what it calls hostility from the United States and its allies as an argument to justify the need for its nuclear program. Sunday’s statement comes as neighbors in the small, inward-looking country believe it is set to conduct its first nuclear tests in five years as part of its provocation drills.
“The prevailing situation supports the urgency of strengthening the country’s defense to respond to the deteriorating security environment on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the world,” said North Korea’s foreign ministry. without specifying how the state plans to strengthen its military capabilities.
The statement was intended as a response to the tripartite meeting between the United States, South Korea and Japan on the sidelines of the NATO summit last week. The three states had then agreed to solidify their cooperation to protect against nuclear threats from North Korea.
North Korea views US-led military exercises in the region, especially those conducted in conjunction with South Korea, as rehearsals for an invasion. However, Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said that they have no intention of attacking North Korea.
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