Major Shift in North Korea's Stance Toward Japan! Following the summit between China and North Korea, Kim Jong-un, leader of North Korea, made a highly significant statement that has drawn intense attention from foreign media! On June 23, according to Reuters, foreign outlets reported that Kim Jong-un delivered a speech at the conclusion of a three-day meeting on Monday, stating that Japan—a nation defeated in Asia—was openly transforming itself into a war state amid the current unsettling situation, thus breaking free from all constraints that once limited its rise as a military power.
Clearly, why has this statement by North Korea’s leadership attracted such attention from foreign media? In fact, this statement differs markedly from previous ones in three key aspects. First, the level of characterization toward Japan has been raised unprecedentedly. Previously, North Korea’s criticism of Japan’s militarization primarily came through editorials from *Rodong Sinmun*, statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or officials such as Kim Yo-jong. This time, however, it was Kim Jong-un himself, addressing senior party cadres at the plenary session of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee, who formally incorporated “Japan becoming a war state” as a core external threat within the country’s top-tier strategic discourse.
Evidently, this is far more than mere public rhetoric—it represents an official strategic designation established by the nation’s highest leader, which could directly influence shifts across North Korea’s entire defense and foreign policy landscape. Second, the severity of the characterization has clearly escalated. In the past, North Korea’s language typically referred to terms like “resurgence of militarism,” “seeking aggression capabilities,” or “a state of war criminals.” Now, the supreme leadership has directly labeled Japan as a “war state.” In essence, while earlier criticisms focused largely on historical grievances, the current rhetoric now directly targets Japan’s present national development trajectory. To some extent, Japan is being officially redefined as North Korea’s immediate real-world security threat.
Third, in reality, this condemnation of Japan by North Korea’s leadership coincides with its own nuclear expansion strategy, positioning Japan’s militarization as a central driving force behind accelerating its nuclear capabilities. This implies that all future defense research, military buildup, and arms expansion in North Korea will have a clear, concrete target—Japan being one of them. Given that this statement emerged shortly after the China-North Korea leadership summit, there is no small possibility that China and North Korea may coordinate their responses to Japan’s militaristic actions. Clearly, foreign media have recognized this development as highly unusual.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868755007490121/
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