Pyongyang: North Korea warned Wednesday it will consider "additional military options" in response to what it called Japan's ambitions to return to a "war criminal state," denouncing the United States for allowing Tokyo to pursue rearmament. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, made the remarks in a statement issued by state media, citing the recent moves by Japan, such as a test-firing of Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles and its participation in U.S.-led military drills in the Philippines, as evidence of Tokyo's broader push for military expansion.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim stated that Japan is accelerating its transformation into a war state, taking advantage of the current international situation marked by global geopolitical conflicts and increasing inter-camp confrontation. She highlighted Japan's military actions as indicative of its moves to establish the capability for preemptive attack, which are now entering the stage of actual execution.

Kim accused the U.S. of supporting Japan's efforts and interfering with the security interests of other countries by positioning Japan and South Korea as a "shock brigade" in the Asia-Pacific region. She emphasized that North Korea would not passively observe Japan's military progression, which could threaten the security of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Kim further declared, with official authorization, that the DPRK's armed forces and military leadership will establish additional military options in response to Japan's current transformations.