Pyongyang: North Korea on Tuesday criticized Japan over its allocation of its largest-ever annual defense budget, accusing Tokyo of plotting to revive a militaristic agenda. The criticism came as Japan allocated 9.04 trillion yen (US$57.7 billion) for defense spending, aiming to bolster its strike-back capabilities and coastal defense.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's widely circulated newspaper, expressed concerns over the Japanese administration under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The newspaper accused the administration of attempting to revise Japan's pacifist constitution and transform the Self-Defense Forces into regular troops, labeling these actions as efforts to establish an "aggression country."

The publication further claimed that Japan is "going mad with reinvasion plotting" and criticized the joint military exercises conducted by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces with NATO member states. The expansion of their operational scope was seen as an attempt to revive Japan's historical ambitions in East Asia.

The Rodong Sinmun highlighted that the increased military budget reflects Japan's intention to elevate the Self-Defense Forces' war-fighting capabilities, viewing it as a significant move towards becoming a military power. The newspaper called this a sign of Japan's alleged efforts to revive its past militarism, expressing ongoing concerns over regional security dynamics.