Kim Yo Jong warns Japan of military options over 'war state' shift
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister accused Japan of becoming a 'war state' and said Pyongyang will adopt additional military measures in response to Tokyo's defence buildup.
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on Wednesday accused Japan of transforming into a 'war state' as Tokyo expands its military posture in the Pacific. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, she said Pyongyang's leadership will 'set up additional military options' in response to Japan's evolution, which she described as a grave threat.
Kim cited Japan's recent test-firing of Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles and its participation in US-led drills in the Philippines in May as evidence of Washington backing Tokyo's 'dangerous military moves.' She argued that Japan is moving to possess a pre-emptive strike capability, warning that North Korea will not remain a passive onlooker.
Japan's defence ministry confirmed to AFP on Wednesday that last week's Tomahawk test was the country's first. The defence minister on Tuesday called for boosting the military with a 'sense of urgency and crisis,' following a government assessment warning of threats from China, Russia and North Korea.
The statement also touched on the colonial past, noting Japan occupied Korea before its 1945 surrender. Kim's message included a reference to 'descendants of militarism' inheriting 'genes of cunning and aggression,' saying that if they acquire deadly weapons, 'something unpleasant will happen.'
Japan has maintained US military bases since the end of World War II. In 2025, its military spending rose by 9.7% to $62.2 billion, equivalent to 1.4% of GDP, the highest share since 1958. China, a key ally of North Korea, has also expressed alarm over what it calls Japan's 'new militarism.' Tensions have worsened since Japan's new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, suggested in November that Chinese action on Taiwan could merit a military response from Tokyo. Beijing has long claimed Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force.
Pyongyang has declared itself an 'irreversible' nuclear state since a 2019 summit between Kim Jong Un and then-US President Donald Trump collapsed over denuclearisation and sanctions relief.
