N.Korea accuses US of 'intentionally' aggravating relations with air drills

BY A STAFF REPORTER:  North Korea's foreign ministry has accused the United States of "deliberately" escalating tensions by conducting joint military exercises with South Korea. The allegations came after Seoul and Washington on Friday announced more than 10 days of large-scale military exercises from March 13 to 23. South Korea's Defense Ministry said fighter jets from the two countries were training together off the coast of the Korean Peninsula. "Despite our repeated warnings, the United States is deliberately escalating the situation," the State Department said in a statement. "The U.S. plan to use nuclear weapons against North Korea is being taken forward to the level of actual war," the statement added. The United States and South Korea have said the upcoming planned drills are defensive, but Pyongyang sees it as an act of aggression.  "We deeply regret the irresponsible and worrisome muscle-flexing of the United States and South Korea, who are constantly pushing the situation on the Korean Peninsula into an unpredictable state," the State Department said in a statement. "North Korea calls for an immediate cessation of military hostilities that disrupt peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the statement said. '