2023-07-28 23:08:34
Japan expressed concern about the nuclear capability of the North Korean regime
TOKYO.- Japan described the threat from the North Korean regime as “more serious than ever”, according to the latest report on the country’s defense published this Friday by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, which highlights concern about the alleged capacity of Pyongyang. to launch nuclear missiles.
Although much of the report focuses on China’s growing military might and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea appears as a major concern for Tokyo.
“North Korea’s military activities constitute an even graver and more imminent threat to Japan’s national security than ever before,” the defense report said.
“North Korea is supposed to have the ability to attack Japan with nuclear weapons loaded on ballistic missiles,” he adds.
The text was approved this Friday by the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a context of acceleration of Pyongyang’s nuclear and weapons development, which multiplied its missile tests.
The report also recalls that China’s military activities represent “an unprecedented strategic challenge” for Japan and expresses concern about joint military exercises between the Asian giant and Russia.
“The international community is facing the greatest test it has known since World War II and we have entered a new era of crisis,” Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada was quoted as saying in the document.
The text underlines the importance of the increase in the defense budget committed by the Japanese government.
For decades, the archipelago limited its military spending to 1% of GDP, but at the end of 2022 it adopted a new security doctrine to raise this percentage to 2% by 2027.
MILITARY CAPABILITIES
The Government of Japan detailed this Friday some of its first steps in strengthening its military capabilities in its new Defense White Paper, which also highlights the growing risks around Taiwan and derived from the war in Ukraine.
The acquisition of long-range missiles, including US Tomahawk missiles, capable of hitting targets more than 1,000 km away, is one of the most outstanding weapons developments in Japan’s new multi-year strategy.
The acquisition of long-range missiles, including US Tomahawk missiles, capable of hitting targets more than 1,000 km away, is one of the most outstanding weapons developments in Japan’s new multi-year strategy.
The document constitutes the first roadmap of this type within the framework of its new multi-year Defense strategy, adopted at the end of last year and which provides for an increase in military spending.
Japan’s defense spending target for the next five years rises to 43 trillion yen (about 301 billion dollars), around 2% of gross national product.
In 2023, the first year of the five-year period, the increase in the military budget will be allocated to the acquisition of combat drones, long-range missile systems or the supply of ammunition, among other specific measures, according to the White Paper.
The acquisition of long-range missiles, including US Tomahawk missiles, capable of hitting targets more than 1,000 km away, is one of the most outstanding weapons developments in Japan’s new multi-year strategy.
With these new weapons, Japan hopes to gain deterrent power in the face of the growing threats it sees from North Korea and China, countries that have developed their missile technology remarkably in recent years.
Tokyo plans to install additional anti-missile shields at strategic points in its territory, in addition to deploying part of its new long-range arsenal in the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago and close to Taiwan, in a move aimed at countering Chinese maneuvers in the area.
1690604781
#Japan #North #Koreas #Nuclear #Capacity #Imminent #Threat #AlMomento.net