Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, sharply criticized Japan’s test-firing of a Tomahawk long-range cruise missile from the Aegis destroyer Chokai in the Pacific Ocean in early August 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. She accused Japan of pursuing military expansion and attempting to "cover up its ambition for a military giant," saying "the US is behind such dangerous military moves of Japan" [1].

Kim also highlighted Japan’s participation in a U.S.-led joint military exercise in the Philippines in May 2026 as part of its growing military activities in the region [1, 2, 3, 5]. She warned that North Korea "will set up additional military options to counter Japan’s military activities that threaten North Korea’s security," though she did not specify what those options might be [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

She accused the United States of backing and supporting Japan’s missile testing and military buildup [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Kim said Japan’s revision of its National Security Strategy aims to pave the way for preemptive strike capabilities, violating its pacifist constitution and international law [3, 5]. She condemned Japan as a "war criminal state accelerating its transformation into a war state" [5].

Recalling Japan’s colonial rule over Korea, Kim warned that "if military aggressors inherit deadly weapons, unpleasant consequences will happen" [5]. Since July 2026, North Korean state media has published multiple editorials condemning U.S.-Japan military cooperation as threats to regional security and escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula [3].

Japan has been increasing its military spending, with plans to raise its defense budget to $62.2 billion in 2025, about 1.4% of GDP—the highest level since 1958 [5]. The country’s growing defense capabilities have drawn strong criticism from Pyongyang.

North Korea’s latest warning signals a continuation of heightened rhetoric following Japan’s recent missile test and expanded military exercises in the region. No further specific military actions from Pyongyang have been detailed yet.

Japan’s missile launch in early August 2026 remains a focal point of tension, with Pyongyang vowing additional military responses in the near future [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].