Lavrov: USA, South Korea and Japan are preparing for war with North Korea

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States of America (USA), South Korea and Japan of preparing for war with North Korea.

Lavrov said at a press conference at the United Nations (UN) last night that the new military bloc assembled by the USA is increasing its activities.

The US, South Korea and Japan have described the joint military exercises as defensive and necessary to counter North Korea's growing nuclear threats.

Suddenly, South Korean rhetoric "became even more hostile towards Pyongyang," Lavrov said, and added that "aggressive rhetoric" is also being heard from Japan and that Japan is seriously talking about setting up NATO infrastructure with American help.

According to Lavrov, the goal of that military bloc is clearly expressed, as he said, they are "preparing for war with the DPRK", using the abbreviation for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea.

The Russian minister said that the US and its Asian allies are also talking about developing cooperation. He said that they formulated it quite vaguely, but that they said something like cooperation related to nuclear issues.

Last week, the US, South Korea and Japan conducted joint naval exercises involving a US aircraft carrier in the latest show of force aimed at nuclear-armed North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been conducting provocative weapons tests that have raised regional tensions to their highest level in several years. Senior diplomats from the three allied countries are due to meet in Seoul to discuss deteriorating relations with Pyongyang.

On the other hand, Lavrov said that Russia's relationship with North Korea is going well and is actively developing.

He said that Russia sees that North Korea is trying to be independent and not work at the dictates of others.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is one of the few world leaders who openly supports Russian President Vladimir Putin in the war against Ukraine.

Kim does not hide his ties with Russia in an effort to get his country out of diplomatic isolation and strengthen its position, while increasingly opposing Washington, Seoul and Tokyo.