January 08, 2026Jan 08, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Japan’s snowballing debt and military spending

Date: 15/03/2019 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

According to information released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, Japan’s state debt reached well over ¥1 100 trillion at the end of last year.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development had announced in 2016 that Japan’s national debt reached 219% of its GDP. With its debt kept growing like a snowball, Japan broke the peak record last year again after 2017.

Last year, over 8 200 businesses went bankrupt in Japan and the number is estimated to grow more this year due to the shortage of manpower.

As they passed the budget bill for 2019, the Japanese authorities worked out a plan to issue national bonds of some 32.6 trillion yen, saying that they could not help but issue national bonds to appropriate the social security funds which keep increasing due to population ageing.

Is it true that national debt mount due to population ageing?

The authorities plan to increase military expenditure, irrespective of the worst domestic situation in which the per capita debt is over ¥ 8.7 million.

The Abe regime is trying to sharply increase defence expenses after making public the defence programme and midterm defence programme (2019-2023) which were revised in December 18 last year with an eye to radically reforming the existing defence system. If things go as planned, a record high of 27.47 trillion yen will be disbursed for the military spending in a few years.

South Korea’s Yonhap News, Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun and other media outlets said that the Japanese government is examining a plan for increasing military expenditure within the limits of 1 percent of GDP to 1.3 percent till 2023 and thus Japan’s military spending will reach 7 trillion yen, or 40 percent rise from 5 trillion yen, in five years.

Japan ascribes the military threat from the DPRK and China and its establishment of defence posture in a new domain covering cyberspace and space to the increase in defence expenditure, but it is nothing but a trick to deceive the public.

Accordingly, Japan shows a sign of pushing ahead with a plan for introducing ground-based missile defence system Aegis Ashore, fighter jets for electronic warfare, over a hundred F-35B stealth fighters and long-range cruise missile JASSM into the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defence Forces in Japan.

Though the Japanese people are getting thinner, the SDF is becoming fatter.

More From Pyongyang Times

Chinese President delivers New Year address

Chinese President delivers New Year address

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a New Year address on the occasion of the New Year 2026. Saying that 2025 was the last year

January 07, 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a New Year address on the occasion of the New Year 2026. Saying that 2025 was the last year

National photo exhibition opens

National photo exhibition opens

A national photo exhibition “Ushering in an era of gigantic transformation for comprehensive development of Korean-style

January 07, 2026

A national photo exhibition “Ushering in an era of gigantic transformation for comprehensive development of Korean-style

UN should contribute to world peace and security

UN should contribute to world peace and security

Many countries are raising their voice in calling for the UN to fulfil its responsibility and role in ensuring global peace and

January 07, 2026

Many countries are raising their voice in calling for the UN to fulfil its responsibility and role in ensuring global peace and

Lao President calls for building more powerful and rich country

Lao President calls for building more powerful and rich country

Thongloun Sisoulith, president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, made his New Year address on the occasion of the New

January 07, 2026

Thongloun Sisoulith, president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, made his New Year address on the occasion of the New

Innovations made in production

Innovations made in production

The Pyongyang General Electric Cable Factory 326 is boosting the production of various kinds of electric cables from the beginning

January 07, 2026

The Pyongyang General Electric Cable Factory 326 is boosting the production of various kinds of electric cables from the beginning

New houses built at farms in South Hamgyong Province

New houses built at farms in South Hamgyong Province

New houses have been built at the Taljon Farm in Tanchon City and Kuup and Rimphyong farms in Yodok County of South Hamgyong

January 07, 2026

New houses have been built at the Taljon Farm in Tanchon City and Kuup and Rimphyong farms in Yodok County of South Hamgyong

Iran warns against aggressive act

Iran warns against aggressive act

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a statement on December 30 2025 warned that his country would strongly counter any

January 06, 2026

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a statement on December 30 2025 warned that his country would strongly counter any

Russian President delivers New Year address

Russian President delivers New Year address

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his New Year address on the occasion of the New Year 2026. He said that the Russian

January 06, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his New Year address on the occasion of the New Year 2026. He said that the Russian

Reception given for art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan

Reception given for art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan

The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un provided a reception for the art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan who

January 06, 2026

The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un provided a reception for the art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan who

New houses built in Jagang Province

New houses built in Jagang Province

New houses were built at the Changbong Farm in Jonchon County and the Ryonsong Farm in Chosan County, Jagang Province. Ceremonies

January 06, 2026

New houses were built at the Changbong Farm in Jonchon County and the Ryonsong Farm in Chosan County, Jagang Province. Ceremonies

Kujang Cement Factory carries out blasting

Kujang Cement Factory carries out blasting

Workers of the Kujang Cement Factory carried out a blasting of 100 000 cubic metres of earth on January 4. The successful blasting

January 06, 2026

Workers of the Kujang Cement Factory carried out a blasting of 100 000 cubic metres of earth on January 4. The successful blasting

Nation presses on with regional development policy

Nation presses on with regional development policy

The Regional Development 20×10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea aims at building modern regional-industry factories in 20

January 06, 2026

The Regional Development 20×10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea aims at building modern regional-industry factories in 20

Self-dependence and dependence

Self-dependence and dependence

What is essential for the development of a state is national self-dependence and its own strength. It is like a suicidal act of

January 06, 2026

What is essential for the development of a state is national self-dependence and its own strength. It is like a suicidal act of

Various units fulfil plans for first day of new year

Various units fulfil plans for first day of new year

Various units have carried out their plans for the first day of the new year. The Namhung Youth Chemical Complex fulfilled its

January 05, 2026

Various units have carried out their plans for the first day of the new year. The Namhung Youth Chemical Complex fulfilled its

Hypersonic missile launching drill conducted in DPRK

Hypersonic missile launching drill conducted in DPRK

A sub-unit under a major firing strike group of the Korean People's Army conducted a missile launching drill on January 4. The

January 05, 2026

A sub-unit under a major firing strike group of the Korean People's Army conducted a missile launching drill on January 4. The

China applies sanctions against US

China applies sanctions against US

As regards the US’ announcement of a large-scale arms sale to Taiwan of China, the Chinese government issued a decision on

January 05, 2026

As regards the US’ announcement of a large-scale arms sale to Taiwan of China, the Chinese government issued a decision on

Socialist rural communities undergo drastic change in appearance

Socialist rural communities undergo drastic change in appearance

The rural communities of the country have taken on a new appearance day after day. Last year, the fourth year of implementing the

January 05, 2026

The rural communities of the country have taken on a new appearance day after day. Last year, the fourth year of implementing the

More Articles