NORTH Korea warned today that the controversial new security pact between Britain, the United States and Australia could trigger a deadly nuclear arms race.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the deal, signed last week and known by the acronym Aukus, threatened peace and stability in the region.

The pact will cover cruise missiles and artificial intelligence as well as giving Australia the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines.

It is viewed by many as a naked act of aggression as part of a new cold war against China.

Pyongyang, which last week carried out its own tests of ballistic and cruise missiles, said of new partnership: “These are extremely undesirable and dangerous acts which will upset the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region and trigger off a chain of nuclear arms races.”

North Korea is said to be considering necessary actions to safeguard its national security against any threat resulting from the deal.

An unnamed official said the decision showed Washington’s belief that it can transfer nuclear technology to any country in the world so long as it is in the US interest.

The agreement has also angered France as it marked the end of a £30 billion deal signed with Australia to build 12 conventional submarines. 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has described the pact as “a stab in the back” by the world powers.

France has recalled ambassadors to Washington and Canberra in response to it as well as scrapping defence talks with Britain that were planned for later this week. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson sought to ease tensions today by stating that the Anglo-French partnership is “ineradicable.” 

China has also hit out at the deal, saying it represents a major threat to regional peace and risks “intensifying the arms race.”