North Korea warns of military options over Japan's defence buildup, citing Tomahawk test

Kim Yo Jong has issued a fresh warning that North Korea will consider additional military options in response to Japan's expanding defence posture. In a statement carried by state media, she accused Tokyo of moving toward a "war state" and said Pyongyang would not remain a passive observer. The comments were made on Wednesday and were tied directly to Japan's recent military steps in the Pacific.

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Kim cited Japan's first test-firing of a Tomahawk long-range cruise missile and its participation in US-led drills in the Philippines in May. Japan's defence ministry confirmed that the Tomahawk experiment last week was its first, while the country's defence minister said on Tuesday that the military needs to be strengthened with a sense of urgency and crisis. Tokyo has also been increasing defence spending, expanding security partnerships and deploying missile launchers to outer islands.

The warning matters because it adds to already strained security ties in northeast Asia and places Japan's military modernisation at the centre of North Korea's public messaging. Japan raised military expenditure by 9.7% to $62.2 billion in 2025, equal to 1.4% of GDP and its highest share since 1958. North Korea's statement also referred to Japan's wartime history on the Korean Peninsula, reflecting how historical grievances continue to shape present-day security rhetoric.

The latest remarks also underline the role of the United States in the dispute. Kim said Tokyo was moving to build a capability for pre-emptive attack and accused Washington of supporting dangerous military moves in the Pacific. Japan has hosted US military bases since the end of the Second World War, and the Tomahawk missile is a US-made weapon that has become a symbol of Tokyo's effort to expand long-range strike capability.

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The exchange comes as regional governments continue to assess the implications of Japan's defence shift and North Korea's response. China has also recently voiced concern about what it sees as new militarism in Japan, adding another layer to the diplomatic tension. The broader backdrop is a region where missile procurement, joint drills and defence pacts are increasingly being treated as part of a wider strategic contest.

It remains unclear what form any North Korean response could take, or whether the warning will be followed by a concrete military demonstration. No timetable or operational details were given in the statement. The next developments to watch are whether Pyongyang follows up with a missile test or other signalling, and how Tokyo and Washington respond.

Kim Yo Jong has warned that North Korea will consider "additional military options" after Japan test-fired a United States-made Tomahawk cruise missile. The statement, carried by state media, said Tokyo was moving away from a defensive posture and toward a military capability for preemptive attacks. It also accused the United States of enabling Japan's military buildup.

Kim linked the warning to Japan's Tomahawk launch from the Aegis destroyer Chokai in the Pacific Ocean, as well as to other missile tests and Japan's participation in a US-led joint military drill in the Philippines in May. She said North Korea would respond in ways that would make Japan feel its security had become more exposed to danger. The comments were among her strongest recent remarks directed at Tokyo.

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The latest statement adds to a series of North Korean criticisms of security cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States. Since July, state media has published at least six editorials and commentaries denouncing joint military activity as a threat to regional security and to the Korean Peninsula. Analysts cited in the report said Pyongyang appears to be portraying Japan's military modernisation as a direct threat in order to justify its own weapons development.

The issue matters because Japan is expanding its long-range strike capability while North Korea continues to frame allied drills and missile procurement as hostile acts. Japan has said it plans to buy 400 Tomahawk missiles by March 2028 as part of a broader defence build-up. The Tomahawk, developed in the United States and in service since the 1980s, is designed to fly low enough to make detection more difficult, which has made it a significant weapon in naval arsenals.

The statement also underlines the central role of the United States in the regional dispute, with Kim directly blaming Washington for supplying the missiles, modifying vessels for their use and supporting the tests. That framing fits North Korea's long-running criticism of allied exercises and defence cooperation in the region. It also suggests Pyongyang may continue to treat Japanese procurement decisions and US-backed drills as part of a wider strategic challenge.

It is not yet clear what form any North Korean response could take, or whether the warning will be followed by a concrete military demonstration. No timetable or operational details were given. The next developments to watch are whether Pyongyang follows up with a missile test or other signalling, and how Tokyo and Washington respond.

North Korea has said it will take what it called "new military choices" against Japan after Tokyo carried out its first test of a Tomahawk missile. The warning was issued on Tuesday by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to the state news agency. Her comments came after the Japanese destroyer Chokai fired the missile in the Pacific Ocean.

Kim also referred to Japanese participation in a US-led military exercise in the Philippines in May, as well as other missile tests conducted by Tokyo. In her statement, she accused Japan of trying to conceal an ambition to become a military power. She said North Korea would "establish additional military options" in response, but did not specify what those measures might be.

The Japanese test marked the first time the country has fired a Tomahawk missile. Japan plans to spend about US$1 billion to buy 400 Tomahawks by March 2028, part of a broader effort to strengthen its long-range strike capability. The missile, developed in the United States and in service since the 1980s, flies low enough to make detection more difficult, which has made it a significant weapon in modern naval arsenals.

The exchange adds to already strained security ties in northeast Asia, where North Korea has repeatedly objected to Japanese military modernisation and to closer defence cooperation with the United States. Tokyo has been expanding its defence posture in response to regional threats, while Pyongyang has continued to frame such moves as hostile. The latest remarks show how missile procurement and joint drills are now being treated by North Korea as part of a wider strategic challenge.

The statement also highlights the role of the United States in the regional dispute, since Kim Yo-jong specifically linked Japan's actions to US-led military activity. That framing is consistent with North Korea's long-standing criticism of allied exercises in the region. It also suggests that future North Korean messaging may continue to focus on both Japanese and American military cooperation rather than on Japan alone.

It remains unclear what form any new North Korean military response could take, or whether the warning will be followed by concrete action. No timetable or operational details were given in the statement. The next developments to watch are whether Pyongyang follows up with a weapons test, further rhetoric, or other military signalling, and how Tokyo and Washington respond.

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