She emphasized that Pyongyang will make new military decisions in response to the perceived threat from Japan.
Kims highlighted Japan’s recent test of the long-range cruise missile from the Aegis destroyer Chokai of its Self-Defense Forces in the Pacific, along with other missile tests and involvement in a US-led military exercise in the Philippines this past May.
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Kim stated that Japan has been attempting to “mask its ambitions for military expansion,” claiming that “the US is supporting these perilous military actions by Japan.”
To address Japan’s military efforts, which could threaten North Korea’s security, Kim mentioned that Pyongyang “will establish additional military strategies,” without providing further details.
The Japanese government is framing its accelerating military development not just as a safeguard for the nation but as a means to enhance prosperity, stating in its latest defense white paper that arms production could foster economic growth.
The annual assessment of threats from neighboring China, Russia, and North Korea advocates for Japan, which has long been constrained by postwar military limitations, to leverage technology, invest in startups, and incorporate more commercial components in arms manufacturing. The white paper highlights that investing in defense benefits the broader economy and improves citizens’ lives, according to a report from the Defence Ministry. This message complements Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s wider strategy of utilizing state spending to promote economic growth.
