North Korean state newspaper the Rodong Sinmun said on Monday that it was shameless and absurd for Washington to condemn Pyongyang for recently launching missiles, describing its recent test launches as part of its national right to self-defense.

The newspaper editorial instead described joint U.S. – South Korea military exercises as constituting the largest threat to peace on the peninsula, suggesting that Pyongyang was ready to take appropriate action should the U.S. or its allies provoke North Korea in future.

Last month North Korea launched a flurry of Scud missiles and 300mm rockets off its south-easterly coast, a move that