(LEAD) N. Korea condemns missile warning data sharing between S. Korea, U.S., Japan

▲ (From L to R) The guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Kirisame, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, South Korea's Aegis-equipped destroyer Sejong the Great and the U.S.' Aegis-equipped destroyer USS Sterett sail in southeastern waters off Jeju Island, South Korea, on Nov. 26, 2023, as South Korea, the United States and Japan jointly conduct naval drills to bolster their defense posture against North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats, in this photo released by the U.S. Navy. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) N Korea-trilateral cooperation

(LEAD) N. Korea condemns missile warning data sharing between S. Korea, U.S., Japan

(ATTN: ADDS details from another article in last four paras)

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Thursday denounced a plan by South Korea, the United States and Japan to launch a real-time missile warning data sharing system this month as an "extremely dangerous military act" to invade the North.

In the landmark Camp David summit among their leaders in August, the three countries agreed to operationalize the trilateral real-time system by the end of this year in a sign of their growing security coordination against Pyongyang's evolving nuclear and missile threats.

On Wednesday, Mira Rapp-Hooper, the U.S. National Security Council senior director for East Asia and Oceania, said the plan is "on track" and that the trilateral system is expected to be operational "within the next few days."

"The trilateral sharing of missile warning data, led by the U.S., is an extremely dangerous military act that is clearly aimed at pushing the regional political situation into a more intimidating confrontation," Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, said.

The newspaper claimed the system is a pretext for "lighting the fuse of a war to invade the North" and to suppress surrounding countries in an apparent reference to China and Russia.

In a separate article, the Rodong Sinmun touted the launch of a military spy satellite and a submarine capable of carrying out an underwater nuclear attack as its biggest feats of the year.

North Korea launched its first military reconnaissance satellite in November after two failed attempts. In September, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a commissioning ceremony of a "tactical nuclear attack submarine."

"A new chapter has unfolded in strengthening national power this year," the newspaper for the North's domestic audience said.

The newspaper also mentioned its growing cooperation with Russia and ongoing construction of residential flats in Pyongyang as major accomplishments.

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