Japan has recognized the need to combat foreign espionage more effectively / NYT reported that Russia is using the country as a base for espionage activities and military supply.

On Monday, Japan declared that it is essential to improve measures against foreign espionage, following an article published by 'The New York Times' (NYT), which states that Russia has turned Japan into a 'nest of spies.' The government's Secretary General, Minoru Kihara, emphasized that, in the context of a constantly changing security environment, it is crucial to counteract espionage activities that threaten national security.

The New York Times cites estimates from the Ukrainian government indicating that 90% of Russian missiles and drones contain Japanese components. The article mentions that Russian operations in Japan are coordinated by a Russian intelligence agent, Maksim Vladimirovich Filcenkov. Kihara added that the Japanese Parliament has passed a law that will facilitate the creation of a new national body to coordinate currently fragmented intelligence activities.