US, South Korea and Japan – North Korea says US seeking an excuse for an Asian NATO

North Korea has criticized an agreement between the US, South Korea and Japan to strengthen military cooperation, claiming it is part of United States plan to create a military alliance like NATO in the region.

US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol met on the sidelines of a NATO summit last week and agreed that the progress of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs posed serious threats to not only the Korean peninsula but also East Asia and the world.

They said they would explore further means to reinforce “extended deterrence” against North Korea.

North Korea has this year been conducting missile tests at an unprecedented pace, and is believed by some to be preparing for another nuclear test.

Ties between Japan and South Korea have long been strained by memories of Japan’s occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.

Relations deteriorated to their worst in years under South Korea’s previous President Moon Jae-in, with spats over territory and history and the two nations calling off an intelligence sharing pact.

Yoon, though, has expressed a desire to repair ties, and Kishida has also seemed to respond favorably.