PYONGYANG, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The official media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday slammed Japan for holding joint military drills with Britain and the United States, accusing Tokyo of pouring cold water over efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The official Rodong Sinmun said that the Self-Defense Forces of Japan recently staged a joint exercise with the British Navy off Kanto for the first time to practice setting up a sea blockade against the DPRK. The Japanese Defense Ministry said it would hold Japan-U.S. joint military exercise in May.

"Going against the trend of the times, the United States and its vassal forces are getting more frantic in supporting sanctions and increasing pressure against the DPRK," said the official daily of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

The daily said that Japan wants to "fish in troubled waters by stoking tensions on the Korean Peninsula."

Minju Choson, another official daily here, said Japan was trying to downplay the significance of inter-Korean summit held at the truce village of Panmunjom late last month.