Key facts
- North Korean state media KCNA criticized Japan's military expansion, calling its overseas aggression a reality.
- The commentary cited Japan's plans for unmanned submarines capable of anti-ship attacks and long-range missiles.
- KCNA accused Japan of transforming its military into an offensive force.
- North Korea has recently emphasized its own naval modernization, including missile tests and new ship commissions.
North Korean state media outlet KCNA published a commentary on Tuesday criticizing Japan's military expansion, asserting that its overseas aggression is a reality rather than a hypothetical scenario. The commentary specifically pointed to Japan's plans to develop unmanned submarines capable of anti-ship attacks, which could be deployed near neighboring countries' coastlines for pre-emptive strikes.
KCNA accused Tokyo of abandoning its long-professed exclusively defense-oriented policy and transforming its military into a "thoroughly offensive and aggressive force." The state media also highlighted Japan's efforts to mass-produce domestically developed long-range missiles, pursue new ballistic missiles with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers, deploy upgraded anti-ship and hypersonic glide weapons, and acquire foreign-made missiles, including U.S. Tomahawks.
Japan's foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment. The commentary emerges as North Korea has increasingly emphasized its own naval modernization drive. On Sunday, KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong Un observed the launch of a strategic cruise missile and weapons system tests aboard the new 5,000-ton destroyer Kang Kon. Kim has called for expanding the country's naval combat capabilities and ordered the vessel to enter service within two months. North Korea recently commissioned the 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyon and has outlined plans to build additional warships, including larger 10,000-ton vessels.