North Korea has condemned Japan’s efforts to bolster its defense capabilities, warning that such actions will only result in Japan becoming a target for joint severe retribution from neighboring countries.
The ruling Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun published an article on Monday titled, The Blatant Emergence of a Warmonger State. The piece highlighted Japan’s recent launch of its sixth 3,000-ton Taigei-class submarine and the announcement of mass production of an upgraded Type 12 anti-ship missile with extended range.
The newspaper argued that it is extremely dangerous for Japan, a former aggressor nation, to openly formulate policies for preemptive strikes against other countries and accelerate the development and deployment of such capabilities. It claimed that this is a persistent pursuit of Japan’s long-standing goal, which began with gradually dismantling restrictions on rearmament and setting a course to become a military power. The paper asserted that rearmament is a key component in Japan’s preparations for another war of aggression.
The article went on to accuse Japan of being the primary instigator in complicating regional dynamics and escalating tensions by exaggerating neighboring countries’ self-defense measures as threats. It emphasized that the operational range of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces across land, sea, and air has far exceeded tolerable limits.
Recently, Japan has been pushing to amend its pacifist constitution to become a war-capable nation, citing North Korea’s nuclear advancements as justification. This includes pursuing the acquisition of counterstrike capabilities to target enemy missile bases and obtaining long-range strike weapons.