Pyongyang: North Korea on Tuesday accused the United States, Japan, and South Korea of creating "a new security crisis" in the Asia-Pacific through expanded military cooperation, warning it would respond with stronger deterrence measures.

According to TRTworld.com, a military commentator stated in commentary carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that the three countries were boosting their joint warfighting capabilities through large-scale military exercises, including the recent US-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) drills.

Pyongyang detailed that this year's RIMPAC involved more than 30,000 personnel, over 30 warships, five submarines, and nearly 190 aircraft. North Korea described the exercise as a rehearsal for "aggression" and accused Washington of pursuing military dominance in the region with support from Tokyo and Seoul.

The commentator further criticized recent US-South Korea air and logistics drills, plans to enhance US command structures in Japan, and the deployment of advanced US missile systems. It was warned that North Korea would respond to "a threat of a new level with a deterrence of a new level."

In a separate development, North Korea's Foreign Ministry refuted recent US-led accusations of Pyongyang posing a cyber threat, labeling them "groundless" and politically motivated. A ministry spokesperson accused the United States of militarizing cyberspace through cyber commands, joint exercises, and artificial intelligence initiatives. The spokesperson argued that it was not Pyongyang but Washington that was responsible for escalating tensions in the digital domain.

North Korea emphasized its commitment to safeguarding its national security and development interests against what it described as Western pressure.