December 12, 2025Dec 12, 2025
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Japan keeps expanding armaments under pretext of ‘exclusive defence’

Date: 19/10/2024 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

Japan’s Tokyo Shimbun, in an editorial recently published on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the adoption of the security-related law, said that though the possibility for Japan to enter war has become seriously stronger as it has become able to exercise the right of “collective self-defence” and the possession of the capability for striking enemy bases has been added to the law, the government continues to expand armaments under the signboard of “exclusive defence”, still talking about “within the range of exclusive defence”, and asserted that such a move must not be allowed any longer.

“Exclusive defence” is the favourite phrase that the successive Japanese authorities have chanted whenever they argued for the policy on building a military power.

The annual defence white papers, which have been issued since 1976, have specified that exclusive defence means the posture of passive defence strategy, based on the spirit of the constitution, with which Japan uses its defence capabilities only when it has been militarily attacked by other country and confines the use of the capabilities to the minimum needed to defend itself, and that the Self-Defence Forces shall not possess long-range missiles, strategic bombers, aircraft carriers, etc. to this end.

The three documents related to security the Japanese authorities adopted in late 2022, including the national security strategy and the national defence strategy, contain the expression “exclusive defence”. And the then Prime Minister Kishida repeatedly emphasized that “exclusive defence is the basic idea of Japan’s military security policy”.

But Japan’s much hyped “exclusive defence” is a mere show.

After 1980, Japan abandoned the “three principles of tanker planes” that do not allow inflight refuelling, the possession of tanker planes and tanker plane drills and installed refuelling equipment in main fighters like F-15 and F-2. At first, it had four tanker planes and increased the number to seven and expanded its air operation radius to over 1 000 to 1 500km away from the mainland.

In addition, under the pretext of “defence of marine traffic routes” it expanded the marine operation radius to 1 000 to 2 000n•miles.

It is well-known that Japan has dispatched its troops overseas in real earnest on the occasion of aggressive wars started by the US and disputes in different regions since the end of the Cold War.

Especially, it enacted the security-related law in 2015 and legalized the overseas dispatch and activities of troops as the main mission of the SDF. In recent years, it has fully enforced the war policies consistent with the pre-emptive strike in an aggressive way, including the steady and radical increase in war funds, possession of different kinds of long-range missiles and remodelling of an escort ship into an aircraft carrier.

It has also put spurs to the modernization of military hardware.

For example, the latest attack submarine Chogei (giant whale) to be officially commissioned as the main warship of the Japanese Maritime SDF was launched on October 4. It is the fifth of eight attack submarines of Taigei (big whale) type planned to be built till 2030. Reportedly, this ship has been improved further than existing ones in terms of displacement, underwater cruise capability and search function and it is also designed to launch heavy torpedoes and anti-warship missiles.

It is as clear as day what mission the SDF, which is transformed into an “all-out attack” type, not an “exclusive defence” type, will have.

More From Pyongyang Times

Efforts channelled into bringing education up-to-date

Efforts channelled into bringing education up-to-date

Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.

December 10, 2025

Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.

Hungary opposes EU’s plan to ban import of energy from Russia

Hungary opposes EU’s plan to ban import of energy from Russia

The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu

December 10, 2025

The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu

New houses built at farms in Jagang Province

New houses built at farms in Jagang Province

Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the

December 10, 2025

Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the

Factory increases production while lowering costs

Factory increases production while lowering costs

The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the

December 10, 2025

The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the

Disaster management ministry delegation leaves for Russia

Disaster management ministry delegation leaves for Russia

A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to

December 10, 2025

A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to

Youth and students hold oath-taking meeting

Youth and students hold oath-taking meeting

Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of

December 09, 2025

Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of

Putin warns European countries against war moves

Putin warns European countries against war moves

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned European countries against moving toward war at a press conference on December 2. Europe

December 09, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned European countries against moving toward war at a press conference on December 2. Europe

Japan enters dangerous stage in nuclear armament

Japan enters dangerous stage in nuclear armament

Recently, Japan has planned to press on with the reexamination of the “three principles of denuclearization” it has maintained

December 09, 2025

Recently, Japan has planned to press on with the reexamination of the “three principles of denuclearization” it has maintained

Annual fertilizer production targets exceeded at chemical complexes

Annual fertilizer production targets exceeded at chemical complexes

The workers of the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex and the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex fulfilled their fertilizer production plans

December 09, 2025

The workers of the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex and the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex fulfilled their fertilizer production plans

New houses built in North Phyongan Province

New houses built in North Phyongan Province

Agricultural workers of the Taedong Farm in Tongchang County and the Namha Farm in Pyoktong County, North Phyongan Province, have

December 09, 2025

Agricultural workers of the Taedong Farm in Tongchang County and the Namha Farm in Pyoktong County, North Phyongan Province, have

Aim of Israeli invasion of Lebanon

Aim of Israeli invasion of Lebanon

It has been one year since a ceasefire agreement was concluded between Lebanon and Israel. But in the period Israel has carried

December 08, 2025

It has been one year since a ceasefire agreement was concluded between Lebanon and Israel. But in the period Israel has carried

Russia condemns trash talk made by NATO high-ranking figure

Russia condemns trash talk made by NATO high-ranking figure

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, denounced on December 1 the reckless remarks made by the chairman

December 08, 2025

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, denounced on December 1 the reckless remarks made by the chairman

Expedition of youth and students climbs Mt Paektu

Expedition of youth and students climbs Mt Paektu

The expedition to revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu, made up of youth and students from across the DPRK, climbed

December 08, 2025

The expedition to revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu, made up of youth and students from across the DPRK, climbed

New houses built in counties of South Hamgyong Province

New houses built in counties of South Hamgyong Province

Modern villages have sprung up at the Hungsang Farm in Ragwon County and the Township Farm in Kumya County, South Hamgyong

December 08, 2025

Modern villages have sprung up at the Hungsang Farm in Ragwon County and the Township Farm in Kumya County, South Hamgyong

Hamhung Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factory remodelled

Hamhung Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factory remodelled

South Hamgyong Province has remodelled the Hamhung Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factory. The factory, furnished with dozens of

December 08, 2025

South Hamgyong Province has remodelled the Hamhung Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factory. The factory, furnished with dozens of

More Articles