US risks nuke arms race

North Korea yesterday warned that the United States risked a dangerous nuclear arms race by providing submarine technology to Australia, criticising its "double standards" and vowing counter-measures.

Last week, the United States clinched Aukus pact, a new trilateral security partnership involving Britain, to provide technological aid to Australia to build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines.

North Korea joined China in decrying the US decision as an "irresponsible one" that destroys regional peace and stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

"These are extremely undesirable and dangerous acts which will upset the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region and trigger off a chain of nuclear arms race," the North's foreign ministry said in a comment carried by the official KCNA news agency.

The North criticised Washington's "double-dealing attitude," singling out White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki's remarks that it does not seek conflict with China but the decision was to shore up regional security.

Her comment "amounts to a stand that any country can spread nuclear technology if it is in its interests, and this shows that the US is the chief culprit toppling the international nuclear non-proliferation system," the ministry said.

"We are closely looking into the background of the US decision and will certainly take a corresponding counter-action in case it has even a little adverse impact on the security of our country."

Meanwhile, France has cancelled a meeting between Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly and her British counterpart planned for this week after Australia scrapped the submarine order with Paris.

Parly personally took the decision to drop the bilateral meeting with British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, the sources said.

The French defence ministry could not be immediately reached. The British defence ministry declined comment.meeting had been cancelled.