North Korea has condemned Japan’s decision to allocate a record-breaking defense budget of 9 trillion JPY (approximately 57.6 billion USD) for this year, accusing Tokyo of displaying clear militaristic ambitions.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party of Korea, published an article on Tuesday titled, Military Buildup Will Only Increase Security Instability.
Japan has finalized a defense budget of 9.353 trillion JPY (approximately 59.8 billion USD), an increase of about 334.9 billion JPY (roughly 2.14 billion USD) from the previous fiscal year.
The newspaper noted that Japan’s defense budget has been steadily rising since 2013 under Shinzo Abe administration, reaching an unprecedented level this year. It argued that this clearly exposes the current government’s ultra-right-wing and belligerent nature.
The article specifically highlighted elements of the budget, including the development and mass procurement of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles and plans to jointly develop fighter jets with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries. These were criticized as highly aggressive measures that far exceed defensive needs.
The newspaper also took aim at Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet’s efforts to revise the constitution. It claimed that since taking office, the Takaichi administration has been maneuvering to amend the constitution and transform the Self-Defense Forces into a regular military, asserting that this is an attempt to establish the institutional foundations of a war-ready state.
The publication warned that Japan’s rearmament would lead to international isolation and strong backlash from various nations. It cautioned that reckless ambitions inevitably lead to disastrous outcomes, citing Japan’s own history as a stern lesson.
North Korea has been closely monitoring Japan’s military activities since Takaichi assumed office.
On December 18 of last year, the Rodong Sinmun published an article titled, Japan’s Reckless Rearmament Efforts Enter an Irresponsible Phase, denouncing discussions within Takaichi’s cabinet about reviewing the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as a blatant and malicious challenge to peace.