N. Korea alleges US drills with S. Korea, Japan are practice for 'preemptive strikes'

This file photo, provided by Seoul's defense ministry, July 11, shows joint air drills among South Korean, U.S. and Japanese military aircraft over international waters south of Jeju Island. Yonhap

North Korea lambasted recent U.S. military drills with South Korean and Japanese forces, on Saturday, accusing them of being preparations for "preemptive strikes" against it.

The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, made the accusation in an article, taking issue with U.S.-led air drills that began last month near Japan and recent air logistics drills between South Korean and U.S. Marines.

"(They) are aimed at conducting pre-emptive strikes against our Republic," the article read. "To ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, indiscriminate military actions by the United States, Japan and South Korea must stop."

The article also criticized ongoing trilateral military cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan, accusing it of being intended to "crush" the North by collective military force.

It said it is only "fair and upright" for the North to bolster its defense force in response to such activities.

South Korea has recently made efforts to strengthen three-way security cooperation with the United States and Japan amid evolving nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.