December 21, 2025Dec 21, 2025
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

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Cholwon County

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Cholwon County

Thanks to the energetic leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea dynamically opening up a new era of comprehensive rejuvenation

December 20, 2025

Thanks to the energetic leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea dynamically opening up a new era of comprehensive rejuvenation

Hungary censures NATO chief for reckless remarks

Hungary censures NATO chief for reckless remarks

The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade condemned the NATO secretary general for his wild remarks on December 12. As

December 20, 2025

The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade condemned the NATO secretary general for his wild remarks on December 12. As

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Janggang County

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Janggang County

Splendid inauguration ceremonies of regional-industry factories are taking place in the DPRK in succession, significantly adorning

December 20, 2025

Splendid inauguration ceremonies of regional-industry factories are taking place in the DPRK in succession, significantly adorning

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Pukchang County

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Pukchang County

As deep emotion and joy sweeps the DPRK in the new era of regional development and prosperity which has been ushered in by the

December 20, 2025

As deep emotion and joy sweeps the DPRK in the new era of regional development and prosperity which has been ushered in by the

China will never tolerate revival of Japanese militarism

China will never tolerate revival of Japanese militarism

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs answered a journalist’s question raised on the occasion of December 13,

December 19, 2025

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs answered a journalist’s question raised on the occasion of December 13,

Iranian President calls for rejecting unilateralism

Iranian President calls for rejecting unilateralism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appealed for rejecting unilateralism for genuine peace as he addressed an international

December 19, 2025

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appealed for rejecting unilateralism for genuine peace as he addressed an international

Floral tribute paid to President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il

Floral tribute paid to President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il

Officials, working people, service personnel, youth and students laid flower baskets and bouquets before the statues of President

December 19, 2025

Officials, working people, service personnel, youth and students laid flower baskets and bouquets before the statues of President

Chairman Kim Jong Il remembered in DPRK

Chairman Kim Jong Il remembered in DPRK

All the people across the country honoured the memory of Chairman Kim Jong Il in humblest reverence on the occasion of the 14th

December 19, 2025

All the people across the country honoured the memory of Chairman Kim Jong Il in humblest reverence on the occasion of the 14th

DPRK Ministry of Disaster Management delegation returns home

DPRK Ministry of Disaster Management delegation returns home

The delegation of the DPRK Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol returned home on December 17 after

December 19, 2025

The delegation of the DPRK Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol returned home on December 17 after

Chinese FM spokesman denounces Japan’s moves to revive militarism

Chinese FM spokesman denounces Japan’s moves to revive militarism

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned Japan for its moves to revive militarism at a press conference on December

December 18, 2025

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned Japan for its moves to revive militarism at a press conference on December

Exhibition highlights diversification of products

Exhibition highlights diversification of products

The exhibition of products of Koryo medicine pharmaceutical factories-2025 took place at the Okryu Exhibition House from November

December 18, 2025

The exhibition of products of Koryo medicine pharmaceutical factories-2025 took place at the Okryu Exhibition House from November

Regional-industry factories in Hwangju County inaugurated

Regional-industry factories in Hwangju County inaugurated

The ardent desire of the Central Committee of the great Workers' Party of Korea has brought about stirring events in different

December 18, 2025

The ardent desire of the Central Committee of the great Workers' Party of Korea has brought about stirring events in different

By building up strong talent force

By building up strong talent force

Our factory has received numerous certificates of scientific and technological achievements at various festivals, exhibitions and

December 18, 2025

Our factory has received numerous certificates of scientific and technological achievements at various festivals, exhibitions and

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun

All the people including service personnel across the DPRK are paying the highest tribute to Chairman Kim Jong Il with boundless

December 17, 2025

All the people including service personnel across the DPRK are paying the highest tribute to Chairman Kim Jong Il with boundless

More Articles