North Korea has strongly criticised Japan’s latest defence policy, accusing Tokyo of using its 2026 Defence White Paper to justify an expansion of its military capabilities.
In a commentary carried by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a North Korean analyst described Japan’s latest defence document as a “re-invasion-minded” paper aimed at creating justification for the country’s military buildup.
The analyst accused Japan of unfairly portraying North Korea as its greatest strategic challenge, claiming Tokyo was using the threat to support what Pyongyang described as a reckless expansion of Japan’s armed forces.
North Korea has stepped up its criticism of Japan’s defence policies in recent weeks, issuing statements against Tokyo at least seven times since July.
Tensions have also increased following Japan’s growing efforts to strengthen its military capabilities and expand its defence cooperation with the United States.
Last week, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, warned that Pyongyang could adopt “additional military options” in response to what she described as Japan’s transformation into a military power.
Her comments came after Japan conducted a test launch of a US-made Tomahawk cruise missile.
A day later, North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile towards waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to South Korean military authorities.
Some analysts suggested the missile launch could have been intended as a warning to Japan amid growing tensions over Tokyo’s military expansion.
Pyongyang has repeatedly accused Japan of moving away from its post-war pacifist stance, while Tokyo has argued that strengthening its defence capabilities is necessary in response to an increasingly challenging regional security environment.
