North Korea condemns Japan’s defense white paper and accuses Tokyo of reviving militarism

Tuesday 11 August 2026 - 14:00

By: Azzat Manal

North Korea condemns Japan’s defense white paper and accuses Tokyo of reviving militarism

North Korea has sharply criticized Japan’s latest defense white paper, accusing Tokyo of using regional security concerns to justify a major expansion of its military capabilities and what Pyongyang describes as a return to militarism.

In comments published by North Korean state media on Tuesday, international security analyst Kang Won-chol argued that Japan was accelerating its military buildup under the pretext of growing threats in the region. He rejected Tokyo’s characterization of North Korea as a serious and imminent security threat, describing it instead as an attempt to legitimize increased defense spending and military modernization.

According to the North Korean analysis, Japan’s increasingly close military cooperation with the United States and other partners is becoming a central element of Tokyo’s security policy. Pyongyang claims that this strategy could help Japan move toward a larger military role while reducing attention to its wartime history.

Kang also pointed to comments by Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi concerning the need to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities. North Korean state media portrayed the policy as evidence that Tokyo is moving further toward militarization and warned that security arguments could not conceal what it described as Japan’s aggressive intentions.

Pyongyang simultaneously defended its own military development, arguing that strengthening its defense capabilities was necessary to deter what it considers hostile actions by other countries.

Japan recently released its first defense white paper under the government of Sanae Takaichi. The document calls for continued modernization of the country’s armed forces, including greater use of drones and artificial intelligence, as well as deeper security cooperation with allies.

The Japanese government has cited an increasingly complex regional security environment as a reason for strengthening its defense capabilities. Tokyo has expressed concern over China’s military expansion, North Korea’s missile programs and growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.

Japan’s defense strategy has become a major source of tension with both North Korea and China. Beijing and Pyongyang have criticized Tokyo’s expanding military role and its closer cooperation with Washington and other regional partners.

The dispute reflects broader security tensions in East Asia, where Japan, South Korea, China, North Korea, Russia and the United States are increasingly adjusting their military and diplomatic strategies in response to changing regional alliances and security concerns.

While Tokyo presents its defense modernization as a response to emerging threats, Pyongyang continues to portray Japan’s military expansion as a dangerous development that could destabilize the region. The opposing interpretations underline the growing strategic competition surrounding the Korean Peninsula and the wider Asia-Pacific region.