North Korea criticises US for planned joint naval drills

North Korea on Wednesday accused the United States of focusing on "military provocations" rather than its dialogue offers, referring to the planned South Korea-U.S.-Japan joint naval drills involving an American aircraft carrier. The routine naval drills off the Korean Peninsula between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan had been scheduled earlier this week, but they were postponed for a few days due to an approaching typhoon. It is not yet confirmed when they will carry out the naval exercise. The spokesman for the North's foreign ministry said that Washington is escalating tensions on the peninsula with the military drills and a joint strategy against its nuclear weapons with Seoul signed last week. "The U.S. has refused our legitimate demand to hold talks and negotiations without preconditions to secure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, only focusing on military provocations," the Korean-language statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. It is the latest condemnation from Pyongyang, which warned the U.S. of a "horrible disaster" after the nuclear-powered 97,000-ton supercarrier, the USS George Washington, arrived at the southern port of Busan last Friday. The spokesman said Pyongyang's efforts have been challenged by the massive drills mobilizing the high-profile American warship.