UPI reports that “North Korea accused the United States and South Korea of increasing the threat of nuclear war after the two sides agreed to strengthen the regular deployment of U.S. strategic assets to the peninsula.”

“A Pyongyang foreign ministry spokesman told a reporter for state-controlled news agency KCNA the bilateral agreement on extended nuclear deterrence is escalating tensions on the peninsula.”

“‘The United States and the South Korean puppets last October announced an ‘extended deterrence consultative group’ and held their first meeting,’ the spokesman said, referring to the first session of the high-level Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group held last week. ‘This is a serious act of provocation that further aggravates the situation on the Korean peninsula and increases the risk of nuclear war.'”