North Korea: "Japan-NATO Close Ties... US Scheme Aiming for Asia-Pacific Hegemony"

North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Criticizes Under Name of Japanese Research Institute Researcher
NATO Likely to Open Liaison Office in Tokyo Next Year
"US Military Bloc Maneuvers... Japan's Intentions to Become a Military Power"

North Korea claimed that the move to strengthen solidarity between Japan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is part of a U.S. scheme aimed at enhancing hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region.

On the 15th, the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an article titled "Where is the End Point of Japan's Pursuit of Military Collusion and Conspiracy with NATO" authored by researcher Kim Seolhwa of the Japan Research Institute and published by the Korean Central News Agency, stated, "The unprecedented military collusion movement between Japan and NATO raises great concerns." Specific examples of this "collusion" included the joint statement by Japan and NATO announced in January this year, Japan's plan to establish the first NATO liaison office in Asia, and the promotion of NATO-Japan Individual Tailored Partnership Programs (ITPP).

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted, "What cannot be overlooked is the fact that behind this worrisome close relationship between Japan and NATO lurks the dark shadow of the United States, which is trying to fabricate an 'Asian NATO' to maintain hegemonic status in the Asia-Pacific region." It added, "Since World War II, the United States, which created NATO, has been scheming to establish such military blocs in the Asia-Pacific region as well," and argued, "As the U.S. position in the Asia-Pacific has recently been greatly shaken, it is more determined than ever to stake its life on creating new military alliances."

North Korea claims that after the Ukraine war, the U.S. is attempting to turn NATO into a "global military alliance" by citing security linkages between both sides of the Atlantic and the Asia-Pacific region, encouraging collusion between allies in the Asia-Pacific and NATO. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized, "The U.S. sinister plan is to draw in Japan, South Korea, and other follower forces into exclusive security cooperation bodies and tie them to NATO to build one huge encirclement against China and Russia," and said that through this, Japan aims to realize its "military great power" ambitions. Toward Japan, it warned, "The more you strengthen collusion with NATO, the more you destroy regional peace and stability, causing only instability and irreversible isolation of the archipelago."

Earlier, Koji Domita, Japan’s ambassador to the United States, revealed on the 9th (local time) that NATO is pushing to open a liaison office in Tokyo. Subsequently, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged, "Discussions are underway to open a liaison office in Tokyo next year," and over two days, he pledged to strengthen solidarity with partner countries in the Asia-Pacific region.