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North Korea condemns Japan's record defense budget as 'invasion war preparation'

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • North Korea criticized Japan's plan for a record defense budget, calling it preparation for an invasion.
  • Pyongyang vowed to retaliate with unified force against Japan's military buildup.
  • The criticism comes as Japan plans a defense budget of around 10 trillion yen, including the purchase of Tomahawk missiles.

North Korea has strongly condemned Japan's proposed record defense budget, labeling it a direct preparation for an "invasion war." The Hermit Kingdom, through state media, vowed to "thoroughly retaliate" with a "unified force" against what it perceives as Japan's aggressive military expansion.

It is beyond doubt that this will lead to the completion of preparations for an invasion war.

— Rodong SinmunNorth Korea's state media, citing the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, criticized Japan's defense budget.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), citing the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, North Korea dismissed Japan's claims of defense and self-preservation as "foolish delusions." The statement highlighted that Japan's military buildup, including the planned purchase of U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and development of offensive weapons, is not aimed at building a "peaceful nation."

It is a foolish delusion to think that the sinister militaristic nature of aggression and war can be hidden under the guise of defense and self-preservation.

— Rodong SinmunNorth Korea's state media dismissed Japan's justifications for its defense spending.

Japan's Ministry of Defense is reportedly seeking approximately 8.9 trillion yen for the next fiscal year, with an additional 1.5 trillion yen in "request items" potentially pushing the total to around 10 trillion yen. North Korea argued that this "dangerous war budget" will not secure Japan's future and will only increase its "security deficit" amid financial difficulties.

The expansion of a dangerous war budget that brings new turmoil to the region and the world.

— Rodong SinmunNorth Korea's state media described Japan's defense budget as a threat.

The commentary also accused Japan of modernizing its Self-Defense Forces into a "preemptive strike capability" by consistently increasing its defense spending and using supplementary budgets. North Korea warned that it would not overlook the "military evolution" of the descendants of a "war criminal nation" that threatens global peace and security.

The purpose of squandering huge amounts of public funds on the mass acquisition of various long-range strike means, such as U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, and the development of offensive weapons, despite financial deterioration, is by no means for building a peaceful nation.

— Rodong SinmunNorth Korea's state media commented on Japan's planned weapons acquisitions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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