Photo courtesy of Anadolu
North Korea warned that Japan’s push for another record defense budget could deepen military competition and increase security tensions in East Asia.
Pyongyang’s state-run Korean Central News Agency issued the criticism Saturday as Japan prepared its defense spending request for fiscal 2027.
Japan’s Defense Ministry was expected to seek about 8.9 trillion yen, or $56 billion, with the final allocation potentially reaching 10 trillion yen, or roughly $63 billion, during budget deliberations.
North Korea argued that Tokyo was using concerns about its security environment to expand the capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces beyond their traditionally defensive role.
Among the programs cited by KCNA were hypersonic weapons, attack drones, artificial intelligence for military command systems and additional missiles capable of striking targets at longer ranges.
Pyongyang also criticized Japan’s acquisition of US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, portraying the move as further evidence of Tokyo’s shift from the restrictions associated with its postwar security policy.
Japan has been carrying out a five-year defense buildup valued at 43 trillion yen, or around $270 billion, covering fiscal 2023 through 2027. The expansion followed a new security strategy adopted by Tokyo in 2022.
Japan has defended its military investments by pointing to security challenges posed by China, North Korea and Russia. Beijing and Pyongyang have opposed Tokyo’s growing defense capabilities amid concerns that competing military buildups could intensify tensions across the region.