North Korea on Monday condemned the joint military exercise between Japan's Ground Self-Defense Forces and the United States Marine Corps, labeling it a war rehearsal.
In an editorial carried by the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea criticized Japan for participating in the Resolute Dragon exercise and accused it of sharpening its invasion capability. The editorial claimed that Japan has aggravated the security situation in the region by deepening its military ties with the U.S.
The KCNA piece also referenced the Iron Fist exercise held in February and claimed that long-range missiles were test-fired in a preemptive capacity during a U.S.-led multinational exercise in April and May. It accused Japan of using the confusing global situation to justify its transformation into a war nation and warned Tokyo of a tragic end should it persist in reckless military behavior.
The Resolute Dragon exercise, which began on June 20 in Okinawa and Kyushu, is scheduled to end Tuesday.