North Korea says record-high Japan defence budget would risk ‘turmoil’

Seoul, South Korea - North Korea has harshly criticized Japan's reported plans to boost its defense budget, accusing Tokyo of preparing for an "aggressive war". The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) suggested that the record-high budget request, at ¥8.9 trillion (US$56 billion), would lead to a new era of turmoil in the region and internationally.

The Japanese defense ministry is seeking to surpass all previous budget records, according to reports from NHK and other media outlets. While the finalization of the budget remains uncertain, the move has been characterized by KCNA as a dangerous expansion of the war budget.

The US, a longstanding ally of Japan and South Korea, has been pursuing talks with Pyongyang, scaling back military drills with Seoul. President Donald Trump's decision to reduce these exercises has raised concerns among allies about US commitments to security in East Asia. Trump has also expressed the intention to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year.

North Korea's stance against Japan's growing military presence reflects the lingering impact of Japan's colonial rule over Korea before World War II. China, North Korea's key ally, has recently expressed alarm over Japan's emerging militarism. The Japanese government, under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is currently revising its national defense strategy amid China's expanding military ambitions.

Despite the increased military spending, the defense minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to maintaining Japan's peaceful post-war status during a visit to a shrine honoring the country's war dead.