N Korea: Supplying Australia with Submarines Prompts Nuclear Arms Race

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North Korea considered that the US deal to supply Australia with nuclear submarines and the new US alliance in the Asia-Pacific would lead to a "nuclear arms race in the region."

The official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a foreign ministry official as saying that the actions of the US could disturb the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region, adding that North Korea would take the necessary actions if the country's security is jeopardized.

On the other hand, Britain seeks to ease the tensions with France.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed his quest to ease tensions with Paris, stressing that Britain and France are engaged in joint military operations in Mali and the Baltic states and also share a simulation program for nuclear testing.

Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison dismissed French criticism over Australia's cancellation of a submarine deal, saying he had raised the issue in talks with the French President back in June.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian considered that canceling the submarine issue would affect the future of NATO, accusing Britain of "permanent opportunism" following the cancellation of the submarines deal.

In the meantime, the French Foreign Ministry renewed its criticism of Australia's decision of backing away from a deal to buy French submarines worth billions of dollars in favor of an alternative deal with the United States and Britain.

Australia announced last Thursday that it would cancel a $40 billion deal it struck in 2016 with France's Naval Group to build a fleet of conventional submarines and instead build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines using US and British technology after a trilateral security partnership.