U.S. remains hostile towards DPRK: newspaper

PYONGYANG, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States was accused of having no plan to change its hostile policy toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in a commentary in the official Rodong Sinmun on Tuesday.

The commentary, lashing out at the recent U.S.-South Korea joint air force exercise, said the U.S. artificially intensified tension on the Korean peninsula and increased the risk of war by constantly holding military drills, while claiming to "secure the peace of the peninsula."

It showed the U.S. still held on to its "gunboat policy" and "whip tactic," it said. The U.S. was increasing its forces in South Korea and the area around the DPRK, attempting to launch a war against it, it added.

The U.S. and South Korea held a joint air force drill on December 16 to 18 in South Korea.