MojNews-Any move by The United States to place new ground-launched, intermediate-range missiles in South Korea could spark a " new Cold War " and an escalating arms race in the region, North Korean state media said on Wednesday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper this month said he was in favour of placing ground-launched, intermediate-range missiles in Asia, a day after the United States withdrew from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces ( INF ) treaty with Russia .

"The U.S. pointed out that it is now examining a plan for deploying ground-to-ground medium-range missiles in the Asian region and South Korea has been singled out as a place for the deployment," North Korea&#۳۹;s state news agency KCNA said.

"It is a reckless act of escalating regional tension, an act that may spark off a new Cold War and arms race in the Far Eastern region to deploy a new offensive weapon in South Korea," it said in a commentary.

Other senior U.S. officials have said any deployment of such weaponry would be years away.