Seoul, 22 August (H.S.): North Korea has strongly criticised Japan’s proposed record defence budget, describing it as preparation for an aggressive war. Pyongyang warned that countries in the region would unite to deliver a firm response to Japan’s expanding military expenditure.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency and other media reports, Japan’s Defence Ministry has requested a record budget of around 8.9 trillion yen, or approximately USD 60 billion, for the next fiscal year. The allocation could approach 10 trillion yen once the budget receives final approval towards the end of the year.

North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cited a commentary published in the country’s leading newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, regarding Japan’s proposed defence spending. The commentary described Japan’s continued increases in military expenditure as a dangerous move that could destabilise the region and the wider world.

North Korea alleged that Japan’s growing military spending was aimed at expanding its weapons stockpile and preparing for offensive warfare. It also claimed that the international community would not accept Japan’s growing militarisation and would unite to respond to it.

The report also criticised Japan’s decision to incorporate US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles into its military capabilities.

Questioning Japan’s rising defence expenditure, North Korea also highlighted the country’s substantial national debt. According to the report, Japan’s national debt had reached a record level of around 1,343 trillion yen at the end of last year. Pyongyang alleged that allocating such a large share of taxpayers’ money to the military was inconsistent with the objective of maintaining Japan as a peaceful country.

North Korea also rejected Japan’s justification of its military expansion in terms of “defence” and “self-defence”. Pyongyang claimed that Tokyo was using these terms to conceal what it described as an expansion of military capabilities and an increasingly aggressive military policy.

Japan’s proposed record defence budget comes at a time of persistent security tensions in East Asia. Concerns over North Korea’s missile programme, Japan’s expanding defence capabilities and growing military cooperation among the United States, Japan and South Korea have added to fears that regional tensions could intensify further.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar