Archive · 22 Aug 2026
North Korea Condemns Japan’s Record Defence Budget Plan
Japan plans to spend more money on its military than ever before.
Its defence ministry requested 8.9 trillion yen for the next fiscal year.
The final amount could be about 10 trillion yen.
North Korea said this spending could make the region and the world less safe.
It accused Japan of preparing for an aggressive war.
North Korea also criticised Japan for introducing US-made Tomahawk missiles.
It pointed to Japan’s large national debt, which stood at 1,343 trillion yen at the end of last year.
North Korea said it would respond strongly with other countries if necessary.
North Korea condemned Japan’s plan for a record-high defence budget next fiscal year.
Japan’s defence ministry requested 8.9 trillion yen, or about US$60 billion.
Japan’s final defence budget is expected to reach around 10 trillion yen.
North Korea called the spending an effort to prepare for a “war of aggression.”
The North threatened to “counterattack thoroughly” with united strength and criticised Japan’s planned purchase of US-made Tomahawk missiles.
- Who
- North Korea and Japan are the principal parties; North Korea’s statements were reported by the Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun.
- What
- North Korea condemned Japan’s planned record defence budget and threatened to respond to what it called Japanese military buildup.
- When
- The condemnation was issued on Saturday; Japan’s defence ministry set its budget request on Wednesday for the next fiscal year.
- Where
- The statement was reported from Seoul and concerned military developments in Japan and the surrounding region.
- Why
- North Korea said Japan’s increased military spending and planned introduction of Tomahawk missiles were preparations for an aggressive war rather than peaceful self-defence.
North Korea’s Position
Japan’s Stated Defence Framing
Purpose of military spending
North Korea’s Position
North Korea said Japan’s record defence budget is intended to complete preparations for a war of aggression and cannot be justified as defence or self-defence.
Japan’s Stated Defence Framing
Japan’s spending is presented in the article through its defence ministry’s budget request; the article does not provide a direct Japanese response beyond that defence framing.
Effect on regional security
North Korea’s Position
North Korea called the expanded war budget a dangerous move that could bring new turmoil to the region and the world.
Japan’s Stated Defence Framing
The article provides no direct Japanese assessment of the regional security consequences of the planned budget.
- Japan’s budget request
- 8.9 trillion yen for the next fiscal year
- Approximate dollar value
- US$60 billion
- Expected final budget
- Around 10 trillion yen
- North Korea’s characterization
- A buildup preparing for a “war of aggression”
- Missiles mentioned
- US-made Tomahawk missiles
- Japan’s national debt
- 1,343 trillion yen at the end of last year
- North Korea’s threatened response
- To “counterattack thoroughly” with united strength