North Korea blamed the US, Japan, and South Korea for seeking to create “NATO of Asian version” by bolstering their defence cooperation. “The US-Japan-ROK relations have taken on the full-fledged appearance of an Asian-version NATO,” said Pyongyang, warning of “fatal consequences.” North Korea condemned the latest US-Japan-South Korea joint drills in ballistic missile and air defences, anti-submarine warfare, and defensive cyber training. “We strongly denounce provocative military muscle-flexing against the DPRK,” Pyongyang’s foreign ministry said.