North Korea has attacked Australia's decision to participate in joint military exercises with the United States and South Korea, describing it as a "suicidal act".
Soldiers of the Korean People's Army stand in formation in Pyongyang. (file photo) Photo: AFP
Thousands of US and South Korean military personnel are beginning an annual military exercise, which will include Australian involvement in computer-simulated drills.
In a statement dated two days ago, North Korea's official news agency said the Australian government should be focused on maintaining the peace of its own country, instead of joining the US in moves towards nuclear war.
It has described Australia's move as suicidal, inviting disaster and "an illustration of political immaturity unaware of the seriousness of the current situation".
"Australia followed the US to the Korean War, the Vietnamese War and the 'war on terrorism', but heavy loss of lives and assets were all that it got in return," a translation of the editorial reads.
"Countries like Australia that join the military adventure against the DPRK, blindly following the US, will never avoid the counter-measures of justice by the DPRK."
- ABC