Pyongyang, October 14 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA on Saturday as regards Australia's frantic engagement in the hostile acts of the U.S. against the DPRK:

Lately, Australia is showing dangerous moves of zealously joining the frenzied political and military provocations of the U.S. against the DPRK while these provocations aggravate the situation of the Korean peninsula into a touch-and go phase.

The Australian foreign minister personally expressed her support for the stand of the U.S. to consider all options including the use of force towards the DPRK, and turned up at Panmunjom on October 11 together with the Australian defense minister to condemn the DPRK during her visit to south Korea.

On the other hand, it was reported that Australian troops have been conducting a joint drill for amphibious landings since last April with U.S. Marine troops deployed in Darwin of Australia.

Against this backdrop, there are reports in media that Australian forces are preparing for a war on the Korean peninsula, including the report that an Australian attack submarine is already in the potential war zone to take part in joint exercises with U.S. and Japanese submarines and a flotilla of Australian frigates is scheduled to arrive in the next few weeks in the waters off south Korea to join any U.S.-imposed naval blockade of the DPRK.

The reckless remarks and conducts by the Australian government officials in support of the military option of the U.S. against the DPRK are foolish acts of allowing themselves to be exploited by Trump's selfish "America First Policy" at the cost of their own national interests.

Besides, turning Australian territory into a front-line base for the U.S. invasion of the DPRK and sending its troops as the "shock brigade" for the war of aggression pursued by the U.S. are tantamount to a suicidal act of bringing back the misery that Australia had gone through during the past Korean War.

Should Australia continue to follow the U.S. in imposing military, economic and diplomatic pressure upon the DPRK despite our repeated warnings, they will not be able to avoid a disaster.

Instead of blindly following the invasion policy of its so-called "ally", Australian officials should talk and act with discretion based on their own principle and realize that working for the development of friendly relations with other countries is the best way to safeguard the security of their own country and citizens. -0-