Pyongyang: North Korea on Friday criticized the United States and Japan, accusing them of transforming their alliance into a threatening "nuclear" coalition, which it claims justifies its own defense buildup.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued the criticism in an article penned by a North Korean international affairs analyst. The article highlighted last year's upgrade of U.S.-Japan consultations on extended deterrence to the ministerial level, as well as the recent reaffirmation of extended deterrence guidelines by the two countries. Extended deterrence refers to the U.S.' commitment to using its full range of military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend its ally.

North Korea also pointed to recent actions by Japanese authorities, including a tour of a base for U.S. B-52 strategic bombers and the execution of a joint military drill simulating nuclear use. The article accused Japan of attempting to "embark on the road of invasion" with U.S. support, suggesting that the U.S.-Japan military alliance is evolving into a "dangerous 'nuclear alliance.'"

The article further claimed that the U.S. is exacerbating regional tensions by deploying nuclear strategic assets at naval and air bases in Hawaii, Guam, and Japan, and conducting joint military drills with its allies. It accused Japan of challenging nuclear powers through its alliance with the U.S., warning that such actions could "bring a nuclear disaster to the world."

The article emphasized that Japan's actions make it clear that the target of the U.S.-Japan nuclear alliance includes North Korea and other neighboring countries. It argued that these developments justify North Korea's buildup of "self-defensive" capabilities to ensure regional balance and protect its territory from perceived threats.