"Obsessed with Military Expansion": North Korea Slams Japan's New Missile Deployment

Chinese Coastal Areas Within Range... Seen as a Move to Contain China
North Korea: "Aiming to Achieve Preemptive Strike Capability"

Missile launcher for the 'Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Guided Missile' developed by Japan. Photo by Yonhap News

North Korea recently criticized Japan's domestic deployment of new missiles, accusing Tokyo of pursuing military expansion and acquiring preemptive strike capabilities.

According to Yonhap News Agency, on August 4, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published a commentary titled "Japan's Reckless Military Acts Accelerate Its Self-Destruction." In this commentary, KCNA condemned Japan's recently unveiled plan to deploy the Type 12 surface-to-ship guided missile with a range of 1,000 km, stating, "This is not at all intended to deter any so-called 'threat,' but is thoroughly aimed at realizing Japan's ambition for a 'Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere' by securing preemptive strike capabilities."

The commentary continued, "Japan is currently approaching an environment where it can turn its war of aggression into reality through military buildup, restructuring, and modernization efforts under the 'National Security Strategy,' 'National Defense Strategy,' and 'Defense Buildup Program.' All of these military moves are directed toward achieving preemptive strike objectives. A new 'Integrated Operations Command' has been established to facilitate the use of long-range missiles, and plans for the organization of missile units have already been completed," the report criticized.

Furthermore, it stated, "The fact that Japan, in its '2025 Defense White Paper,' has labeled us and neighboring countries as an 'imminent threat' and 'the greatest and unprecedented strategic challenge' clearly indicates where its guns are aimed and fully loaded. The reality shows that Japan, obsessed with becoming a military power, is frantically accelerating the actual deployment of long-range strike means intended for preemptive attack, trying to hasten the day when the sound of renewed aggression will ring out again."

Previously, on July 29, Japanese media reported that Japan was discussing the first deployment of its domestically developed precision-guided missiles at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Kengun garrison in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, in order to secure enemy base strike (counterattack) capabilities. It has been analyzed that the missile's range includes the Chinese coastal area, indicating the move is also intended to keep China in check, especially as China has intensified its activities around the Nansei Islands.