Rodong Sinmun on Sunday observes in a bylined article in this regard:

Such remarks as "provocation from the north" and "threat from it" made by the U.S. and the south Korean warmongers are nothing but sophism to hide their bellicose nature and justify their moves for a war against the north.

It is a trademark tactic of the U.S. and the puppet regime of south Korea to go reckless in war moves after labeling the DPRK "a provocateur".

It is none other than the U.S. and its south Korean puppet regime that have driven the situation on the Korean Peninsula to such an extremely dangerous phase.

They introduced nuclear-capable strategic bombers and nuclear-powered subs and other nuclear strike means of various types into south Korea and its vicinity for madcap Foal Eagle war drills against the north. This was an extremely dangerous military provocation as they were aimed to unleash a nuclear war in Korea.

The south Korean puppet regime also worked out "a plan to jointly cope with the provocation of a local war" under a scenario to develop any armed conflict between the north and the south of Korea into an all-out war.

This was an undisguised action of the U.S. to let the puppet regime preempt an attack on the north and hurl all its aggression forces in its mainland and the Pacific region into operations, using it as a pretext, and launch an all-out war against the north.

The U.S. and the south Korean puppet regime are slandering the DPRK under the pretext of "provocation" from it in a sinister bid to ratchet the international "sanctions" against it and escalate such war moves.

It is shameless, indeed, for the arch criminals responsible for the grave situation in Korea to brand the DPRK as "a provocateur," painting themselves as victims.