North Korea calls U.S. cruise missile tests 'dangerous'

A North Korean spokesman said on Thursday the United States' recent mid-range cruise missile test and plans to deploy F-35 jets and offensive military equipment around the Korean peninsula were "dangerous" moves that would "trigger a new cold war" in the region.

North Korea remains unchanged in its position to resolve all issues through dialogue and negotiation, a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said, but "dialogue accompanied by military threats is of no interest to us," according to state media KCNA.

"Dangerous and unusual military moves are now on the horizon, which would trigger a new cold war on the Korean peninsula and in the region," the statement added.

Working-level talks between the United States and North Korea have yet to restart since they were stalled by the failed second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi in February.

Trump and Kim met again in June at the inter-Korean border and agreed to reopen negotiations.

U.S. envoy Stephen Biegun, who leads working-level talks with North Korea, has been in Seoul since Tuesday after a stop in Japan to discuss the denuclearization of North Korea.

"We are prepared to engage as soon as we hear from our counterparts in North Korea," Biegun said on Wednesday.

The KCNA statement also echoed North Korea's repeated protest against high-tech weapons being imported by South Korea such as F-35 stealth jets, calling them "grave provocations."

The Pentagon said on Monday it tested a ground-launched cruise missile with a range of more than 500 km, the first such test since the United States pulled out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

The INF treaty, signed by both the U.S. and U.S.S.R. in 1987, banned all ground-launched, short- and medium-range nuclear and conventional missiles. It aimed toreducethe ability of both countries to launch a nuclear strike on short notice.

North Korea has fired several short-range missiles in recent weeks, citing the need to strengthen its own security.

Russia and China have asked the United Nations Security Council to meet on Thursday over "statements by U.S. officials on their plans to develop and deploy medium-range missiles," according to the request seen by Reuters.

Moscow and Beijing want to convene the 15-member council under the agenda item "threats to international peace and security" and have requested that UNdisarmament affairs chief Izumi Nakamitsu brief the body.

U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper was asked in a Fox News Channel interview on Wednesday whether the U.S. missile test was aimed at sending a message to China, Russia or North Korea and indicated that the main concern was China.

"We want to make sure that we, as we need to, have the capability to deter Chinese bad behaviour by having our own capability to be able to strike at intermediate ranges," he said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Tuesday that the U.S. test showed the Washington was stoking a new arms race and confrontation, which would have a serious negative impact on regional and global security.