Pyongyang: North Korea has issued a warning to Japan over its reported plans to station long-range missiles in the Kyushu region by March 2026, cautioning that such a move would lead to heightened tensions in Northeast Asia, state-run KCNA reported on Thursday.
According to Japan’s Kyodo News, Tokyo is considering deploying these missiles as part of efforts to develop "counterstrike capabilities" that would allow it to target enemy positions in times of crisis.
In response, Pyongyang accused Japan of reviving its history of militarism by deepening ties with the United States and strengthening cooperation with NATO forces. The policy section chief of North Korea’s Institute for Japan Studies, under the Foreign Ministry, criticized Japan’s military developments, calling them a direct threat to North Korea.
"Any military action directly targeting the DPRK will be treated as a threat that must be eliminated," KCNA stated, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un condemned the growing military cooperation between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, stating that it was fueling regional instability. He also pledged to enhance North Korea’s nuclear capabilities as a countermeasure.
