North Korea Condemns Blinken's Comments on Pyongyang-Russia Ties

(Patria) - North Korea's Foreign Ministry has condemned comments by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on North Korea-Russia relations, saying they only heighten political and military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korean state media KCNA reported on Saturday.

Blinken said on Thursday that he shares South Korea's concerns about growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which he called a "two-way street" involving the flow of weapons and technical support, Reuters reported.

"The U.S. should get used to the new reality of DPRK-Russia relations," North Korea's Foreign Ministry said.

DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's official name - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"No matter what others say, the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Russia, which pursue independence, peace and friendship, will continue to strengthen," the statement added.