North Korea has condemned Japan over reported plans to deploy upgraded anti-ship missile systems in the country’s southwest, labeling the move a provocation with broader geopolitical implications.
In a commentary published Monday, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) responded to a report from Japan’s Kyodo news agency, which claimed that Tokyo is preparing to deploy Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles in Kumamoto Prefecture. The deployment is expected to take place within the current fiscal year and would position the systems along Japan’s western coastline, facing the East China Sea.
According to the Kyodo report, the upgraded missiles—locally manufactured and with an extended range of up to 1,000 kilometers—are part of Japan’s efforts to bolster the defense of the Nansei island chain. This region holds strategic value due to its proximity to Taiwan and increasing regional tensions.
Japanese government sources cited by Kyodo indicated that the planned deployment is driven by concerns over a potential military confrontation involving China and Taiwan.
However, Pyongyang dismissed the justification, alleging that the deployment serves a broader agenda. The KCNA claimed the missile systems would enable Japan to conduct preemptive strikes, describing the move as part of a pattern of rearmament and militarization.
"Through military buildup and modernization efforts, Japan is nearing a point where it could pursue aggressive military operations," the statement read. It further accused Japan of attempting to revive imperial-era ambitions under the guise of defensive measures.
Pyongyang also described Japan as being "obsessed with becoming a military power," warning that any future military aggression would lead to dire consequences.
Japan has not publicly responded to the KCNA’s remarks.
