Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea released the following press statement "We will never tolerate the reckless military confrontation hysteria" on Friday:

The U.S., Japan and the Republic of Korea are getting frantic in their provocative military exercises from the outset of the year.

Joint maritime exercises were staged again in the waters off Jeju Island for three days from Jan. 15 with the involvement of the U.S. nuclear carrier Carl Vinson and Aegis cruiser Princeton and warships of the Japanese maritime "Self-Defense Force" and the ROK navy.

The exercises, which followed the joint establishment of a tripartite multi-year drill plan by military gangsters of the U.S., Japan and ROK in December last year, constituted a cause of further destabilizing the regional situation, and they are an act of seriously threatening the security of the DPRK

In response to it, the Underwater Weapon System Institute under the DPRK Academy of Defence Science conducted an important test of its underwater nuclear weapon system "Haeil-5-23" under development in the East Sea of Korea.

Our army's underwater nuke-based countering posture is being further rounded off and its various maritime and underwater responsive actions will continue to deter the hostile military maneuvers of the navies of the U.S. and its allies.

We strongly denounce the U.S. and its followers for their reckless acts of seriously threatening the security of the DPRK from the outset of the year and sternly warn them of the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by them.

The armed forces of the DPRK will strike horror into their hearts through responsible, prompt and bold exercise of its deterrent and firmly defend the security of the state and regional peace by dint of great strength, never tolerating the reckless military confrontation hysteria of the enemies. -0-