North Korea has criticized a joint military exercise between South Korea, Japan and the United States held this month, state media reported Sunday, saying such exercises show that the relationship between the three countries has developed into “the Asian version of NATO.”
On Thursday, the three countries began large-scale joint military exercises called “Freedom Edge.” The exercises will involve the use of nuclear-powered naval destroyers, fighter jets and the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt. The goal is to strengthen defenses against missiles, submarines and air attacks.
The exercise was conceived during last year’s three-nation summit at Camp David to boost military cooperation amid tensions on the Korean Peninsula over North Korea’s weapons tests.
