Branding this as a very dangerous move to contain "potential rivals" in the Asia-Pacific region and maintain military domination over the region, a signed commentary of Rodong Sinmun Monday observes:

The U.S. seeks to establish a new Cold War structure in the region and hold hegemony in it.

The U.S. is tightening relations with traditional military allies such as Australia, Japan and south Korea and, at the same time, strengthening "military cooperation" with several Asian countries. By doing so, it seeks to heighten the degree of military pressure upon such "potential rivals" as China and Russia and step up the move to lay an encircling ring around them.

The U.S. tightened military pressure and interference in internal affairs of several Asia-Pacific countries may entail unpredictable consequences, causing split and estrangement and sparking off fierce arms race in those countries.

The U.S. is trumpeting about "peace and stability" in Asia while styling itself an "Asia-Pacific country", but this is nothing but a cynical ploy to justify its criminal move to bring another Cold War and hold military hegemony. The fictitious "missile threat" from the DPRK floated by the U.S. is also no more than a smokescreen to cover up its arms buildup and scheme for military hegemony over the region.