SEOUL: North Korea slammed Japan’s reported plans to increase its defence budget, accusing Tokyo on Saturday (Aug 22) of preparing for a “war of aggression” as its US ally pursues talks with Pyongyang.
Japan has been gradually moving away from its post-World War II pacifist stance, increasing military spending, ramping up defence pacts and deploying missile launchers to its outer islands.
The Japanese defence ministry is now seeking a “record-high” budget for the upcoming fiscal year, broadcaster NHK and other media outlets reported this week, putting the sum at 8.9 trillion yen (US$56 billion).
The budget request “will once again break all-time records”, a commentary carried by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
While not yet finalised, the move “clearly signifies a dangerous expansion of the war budget that will bring new turmoil to the region and the world”, KCNA said.
“This massive increase in military spending will lead to a buildup of military power to complete preparations for a war of aggression”.
The United States, an old Japanese and South Korean ally, meanwhile seeks its own engagement with Pyongyang, with President Donald Trump scaling back annual military drills with Seoul aimed at countering potential threats from the nuclear-armed North.
Trump’s order has alarmed allies concerned about US commitments to security in East Asia. Japan this week underlined the “critical” importance of security cooperation with the United States and South Korea.
Trump also said he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year.
