North Korea, fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine in its first major conflict since the Korean War, on Monday adopted its ally’s tone in lambasting warming Japanese ties to NATO.

North Korea warned Friday that it would exercise its right to self-defense "more intensively" as it condemned recent joint air drills among South Korea, the United States and Japan.

Japanese and South Korean fighters escorted U.S. bombers in the first air power demonstration of the year by the three countries.

North Korea’s foreign ministry issued a statement soon after U.S., South Korea and Japan held a joint military drill. Pyongyang condemned the drill and said it will respond by exercising right to self-defence more intensely.