TOKYO, March 4. /TASS/. The United States, Japan and South Korea are crossing the "danger line" and that cannot be tolerated, the North Korean foreign ministry said on Saturday cited by Reuters.

The statement has not been published on North Korea’s official websites.

Pyongyang blamed the United States for the collapse of the international arms control systems and said that its nuclear weapons were a response to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea’s statements could have been triggered by the announced military exercises, as the South Korean and US militaries plan to conduct Freedom Shield, a computer-simulated command exercise, from March 13-23.

Simultaneously, the Warrior Shield joint field training exercise that is comparable in size to the latest major drill Foal Eagle, which was stopped in 2019 when the former South Korean administration was seeking diplomatic efforts with the North.

North Korea has reiterated that it would respond in kind to any provocations from the United States, South Korea or Japan, including drills.