N Korea warns of dangerous nature of US-Japan-S Korea alliance.

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17/1 Tass 59

PYONGYANG, January 17 (Itar-Tass) - North Korea's Pyongyang Times
newspaper has pointed to the dangerous nature of the
Washington-Seoul-Tokyo tripartite military alliance.
The publication notes that the establishment of the alliance "has not
been officially announced, but it already exists and operates." The
conduct of military manoeuvres, during which the tactics of joint
offensive operations of the three sides is drilled, testifies to this
first of all. Its creation, the article says, will allow the United States
to use Japan and South Korea "as a strike force to implement its strategy
in Northeast Asia."
The US actions that could undermine the military balance in the
region, writes The Pyongyang Times, "cause concern in the DPRK and other
countries." Pyongyang is convinced that the "first target of the
tripartite alliance would be North Korea." Washington, together with Seoul
and Tokyo, according to the publication, have already developed plans "in
case of emergency on the Korean Peninsula" that are aimed against North
Korea.
However, not only North Korea but also China is looking with concern
at how "a huge contingent of foreign troops, together with means for a
nuclear strike" are being concentrated in Northeast Asia under the pretext
of deterioration of the situation on the Korean peninsula. Russia, The
Pyongyang Times says, is also "concerned about the US military manoeuvres,
which are held close to its territory."
Washington, says the publication, "regards Russia and China as
potential enemies that would prevent the growth of US military influence
in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, the US intention to strengthen
military alliance with Japan and South Korea will cause an adequate
response from Moscow and Beijing, which have its own strategic interests
in the Asia-Pacific region." As a result, "Northeast Asia will become the
scene of a new arms race, and global peace will be threatened," writes the
newspaper.
North Korea has long maintained close relations with the People's
Republic of China and Russia. The fall of communism in Eastern Europe in
1989, and the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, resulted in a
devastating drop in aid to North Korea from Russia, although China
continues to provide substantial assistance. North Korea continues to have
strong ties with its socialist Southeast Asian allies in Vietnam and Laos,
as well as with Cambodia. North Korea has started installing a concrete
and barbed wire fence on its northern border, in response to China's wish
to curb refugees fleeing from North Korea. Previously the border between
China and North Korea had only been lightly patrolled.
As a result of the North Korean nuclear weapons programme, the
Six-party talks were established to find a peaceful solution to the
growing tension between the two Korean governments, the Russian
Federation, the People's Republic of China, Japan, and the United States.
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