TOKYO: North Korea has accused the United States of “reckless arms expansion” that could lead to a pre-emptive nuclear attack against its enemies.

The Institute for Disarmament and Peace of North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a bulletin on Sunday criticizing the United States for its weapons programs.

“The hegemonic attempt of the new US administration to maintain its own military hegemony and overwhelm an independent sovereign state with reckless arms expansion has been clearly manifested since the first day of the administration,” the North’s statement said.

The North objected to plans by the US to expand its missile defense system, which, it says, will be able to detect and intercept missiles and will include a space-based missile interception system reminiscent of the “Star Wars” plan proposed by President Ronald Reagan 40 years ago.

“The United States has the evil intention of deploying various missile defense systems on the front line in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region,” the statement added. “The current US government’s attempt to modernize the missile defense system also has the conditions to carry out a pre-emptive nuclear attack on its enemies and turn outer space, the common property of all mankind, into a battlefield.”

In response, North Korea says it must develop a national defense centered on nuclear deterrence “in order to cope with the increasing military hegemony of the United States.”

In a separate statement, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry attacked new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for “blaspheming our country” when he referred to the North as a “rogue state”.

“Rubio’s vulgar and insane delusions only show the false view of Korea of the newly established US government,” the statement said. “The hostile words and actions of the person in charge of US foreign policy were an opportunity to once again confirm the hostile policy of the United States towards North Korea.”

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea sees the hostile words and actions of the US Secretary of State as a serious political provocation that completely goes against the principles of international law based on respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.”