The Democratic People's Republicof Korea (DPRK) denounced on November 26 a new South Korean defense plan as a "very dangerous military step to upgrade preparations for a war against the DPRK."

The cooperative self-reliant national defense plan, unveiled by the South Korean Defense Ministry on Nov. 18, is "aimed at strengthening the alliance with the United States and rounding off their preparations to invade the north," a spokesman for the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said in a statement.

Under the plan, South Korea is to reorganize and expand the Joint Chiefs of Staff, actively push forward research and development in the arms industry and dramatically increase its military budget for the next four years, the statement said.

"The South Korean war hawks are whetting their swords for aggression to stifle the north by force of arms, paying lip-service to inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation," it said.

"If they keep to the road of confrontation and war, toeing the US line, they will be held entirely accountable for all the ensuing consequences," the statement warned.