North Korea said today it was pulling out of the only regular military contact channel with the United States, which Pyongyang accused of preparing for a military attack on it after the war with Iraq.

North Korea views as a violation of the armistice the U.S. reinforcement of its military presence around the Korean peninsula. An aircraft carrier, stealth fighter jets and an Aegis warship are part of the U.S. presence in the region during the joint war games with South Korea.

North Korea has also blamed South Korea for its support of the U.S. stance toward Pyongyang and for the U.S.-led war on Iraq. It has canceled government talks with the South scheduled for this week.

(UPI)