North Korea threatens Japan with new military options

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (photo), sent a message through the KCNA agency, accusing Japan of abandoning its pacifist policy and transforming into a 'war state'. She warned that North Korean authorities will prepare 'additional military options' in response to Japan's recent actions.

Japan, in the context of regional tensions, has conducted Tomahawk cruise missile tests and participated in military exercises with the U.S.

In recent decades, Japan has significantly increased its defense budget, reaching over 62 billion dollars by 2025, the highest level in the last seven decades.

This militarization has raised concerns in China, North Korea's ally, amplifying rivalry in the Pacific. Relations between Japan and North Korea are influenced by the history of Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula, further complicating the regional security situation.