North Korea today criticized a joint military exercise by South Korea, Japan, and the United States held this month. In a statement, its state media said such drills show that the relationship among the three countries has developed into the Asian version of NATO. Earlier on Thursday, the three countries began large-scale joint military drills called ‘Freedom Edge.’ The exercise involving navy destroyers, fighter jets, and the nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt aimed at boosting defences against missiles, submarines, and air attacks.