KCNA Commentary Slams Japan's Increase in Military Spending

Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- Recently, the Japanese government decided on an additional draft budget for "defense" for 2021 amounting to ¥773.8 billion on the pretext of taking countermeasures against the military build-up of neighboring countries.

This amount plus its largest-ever initial military spending for this year would mean a colossal amount of ¥6 116 billion in "defense budgets" in 2021 alone, an increase of 7% from last year.

The increased budget is reported to be used for purchasing war machinery such as P-1 patrol planes, transport aircraft as well as an upgraded version of the Patriot land-deployed interceptor missile which is aimed at the DPRK and China.

Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry of Japan announced its intention to increase the range of a cruise missile currently under development by over 1 000km and that it will be mounted on battleships and fighter jets, not just land deployment.

This rampant attempt to quickly possess the "ability to attack enemy bases" after completely shaking off the mask of "exclusive defense" shows Japan's fervor for aggression and war that has reached its height.

Until now the Japanese reactionaries have made fraudulent use of the slogan of "exclusive defense", which mainly calls for refraining from the use of force and non-possession of combat capability, etc, as a protective screen to hide their wild dreams for reinvasion and plot to turn Japan into a military power.

Since the Abe regime, they have continuously increased the "military budget" higher than the year before and cunningly added a supplementary budget to it under the pretext of "threats from surroundings", thus making the "Self-Defense Forces" come top on the list in the world.

The military budget increasing nonstop has been used for purchase and development of offensive weaponry including up-to-date stealth fighters, long-range cruise missiles and aircraft carriers. And the adoption of various war laws and regulations enabled to expand the operation scope of the "Self-Defense Forces" to outer space beyond "exclusive defense".

The present Japanese authorities, after making the possession of "ability to attack enemy bases" a fait accompli, have buckled down to it in particular.

Prime Minister Kishida gave orders for the revision of the "state security strategy", the "defense guidelines" and the "midterm defense capability buildup outline" for the purpose of the possession of the "ability to attack enemy bases".

This possession which legalizes a preemptive attack against other countries signifies the final completion of Japan's preparation for reinvasion.

Nothing is more foolish than to think that its guise of "defense" can hide its heinous militaristic nature of aggression and war.

Japan will only meet destruction if it continues to go rampant to revenge its past defeat. -0