North Korea has condemned the ongoing joint military exercise between the United States and Japan, accusing Tokyo of using regional security tensions to justify expanding its military capabilities.
In an editorial published Monday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang claimed Japan was moving away from its post-war pacifist principles by deepening military cooperation with Washington. It described the joint exercise, Resolute Dragon, as part of efforts to strengthen Japan’s offensive military capabilities under the guise of regional security.
North Korea alleged that Japan was using the changing security environment to justify increased defence spending, expanded military training and closer strategic coordination with the United States. It also accused Tokyo of participating in long-range missile drills simulating pre-emptive strikes during a US-led multinational exercise earlier this year.
Pyongyang warned Japan against pursuing what it called a dangerous military path, saying it could face serious consequences.
The Resolute Dragon exercise, which began on June 20, is being conducted by Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps across Okinawa and Kyushu and is scheduled to end on Tuesday. Washington and Tokyo maintain the drills are defensive, aimed at improving interoperability, military readiness and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
