North Korea condemned Japan’s plan for a record defense budget, calling it preparation for a war of aggression and vowing a thorough counterattack. The criticism cited Japan’s defense ministry setting a next-year budget request at 8.9 trillion yen, with the final budget expected to reach about 10 trillion yen. KCNA also attacked Japan’s introduction of U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles and said Japan could not hide its militaristic nature under the guise of defense.
Japan's defense ministry shows related equipment to local government officials at a military camp in Kumamoto, March 17, ahead of the deployment of long-range missiles. Yonhap
North Korea on Saturday condemned Japan's plan to set a record-high defense budget for next year, calling it a move to prepare for a "war of aggression" and threatening to "counterattack thoroughly" with united strength.
The condemnation came as Japan's defense ministry on Wednesday set its budget request for the next fiscal year at a record 8.9 trillion yen ($60 billion), with the final budget to rise to around 10 trillion yen when finalized at the end of the year, according to foreign media reports.
"The expansion of the war budget is a dangerous move that brings new turmoil to the region and the world," the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a commentary carried by the Rodong Sinmun, the most widely read newspaper in the country, as saying.
