North Korea warns of 'military options' over Japan rearmament

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong issued a stern warning on Wednesday, accusing Japan of rapidly transforming into a 'war state' amid its significant military expansion in the Pacific. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated that Pyongyang's leadership would develop 'additional military options' in direct response to Japan's evolving defense posture.

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Japan, a war criminal state, is accelerating its transformation into a war state.

Japan has been progressively moving away from its post-World War II pacifist stance. This shift includes increasing military spending, strengthening defense alliances, and deploying missile launchers to its outlying islands. Tokyo's defense minister recently emphasized the urgent need to bolster the military, citing growing threats from China, Russia, and North Korea in a new government assessment.

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Pyongyang's leadership will set up additional military options which are obviously due to Japan's transformation.

Kim Yo Jong specifically pointed to Japan's recent test-firing of Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles and its participation in U.S.-led drills in the Philippines as clear indicators of Washington's backing for 'dangerous military moves' in the region. She asserted that Tokyo is moving towards possessing preemptive strike capabilities, stating, "We will never remain a passive onlooker to the military evolution of Japan which may pose a grave threat."

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We will never remain a passive onlooker to the military evolution of Japan which may pose a grave threat.

The historical context of Japan's occupation of Korea before 1945 continues to influence regional relations. Kim's statement evoked this legacy, warning that "if the descendants of militarism... have seized deadly weapons in their hands, something unpleasant will happen." Japan's military expenditure rose by 9.7 percent to $62.2 billion in 2025, reaching its highest share of GDP since 1958. China, a key ally of North Korea, has also expressed concerns about Japan's 'new militarism.'

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If the descendants of militarism, who have inherited the genes of cunning and aggression, have seized deadly weapons in their hands, something unpleasant will happen.