Pyongyang accused Washington of turning U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) into a “de facto war command” aimed at a regional conflict as Tokyo announced it successfully conducted its first live-fire test of a Tomahawk cruise missile capable of striking North Korea.

In a commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday, Pyongyang referred to comments from USFJ commander Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, who told Japan’s Asahi Shimbun that headquarters staffing had increased by 215 personnel over the past year to strengthen the command’s capabilities.

The increased staffing indicates USFJ is being transformed from an organization primarily responsible for