TOKYO:North Korea says theproposedsale of 36 American Apache attack helicopters to South Koreaand sales of other military hardwareto US allies in the region “poses aserious danger to the regional security environment.”

The Director of the Foreign Press Office ofNorth Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairsissued astatementThursday, saying US arms sales “increased military tension” in the region.

“We strongly oppose the armed reinforcement measures of the United States and itsalliedforces, whichpose a serious danger to regional security,” the statement said. “Such reinforcement will affect the military and political situation in the region.”

The North says the current military exercises between the United States and South Korea are increasing military tensionsandthe sale of offensive weapons to South Korea“is a challenge to deliberately increase security instability in the region.”

The North saidthe United Statessold “various advanced murder equipment” to South Korea, including25 F35 stealth fighters, 36 SM6 anti-aircraft interceptor missiles and 42 AIM9X sidewinder air-to-air missiles. It added that Australia, Japan and Taiwan are all benefiting fromsupplies of US militaryequipment.

“The provision of US murder weapons is akeyfactor in intensifying military confrontation and contradictions in the region, destroying the military balance, and promoting and expanding the risk of new conflict,”it said.As a result, the North says, it is compelled to “guarantee military balance in the region by fully strengtheningourdefense power in proportion to the challenges and threats to security that the US arms sales activities may bring.”

“The more the United States is obsessed with providing war equipment and murder equipment to its allies in the region, the more our strategic deterrent power to protect national security interests and regional peace will beincreased.”