Kim Jong Un labels Japan a 'war state' seeking military power

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has branded Japan a ‘war state’ that is seeking to become a military power, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday. In a closing speech at a Workers’ Party of Korea meeting on Monday, Kim accused Japan of ‘openly transforming itself into a war state’ by exploiting the current situation to ‘cast off all shackles restricting its steps to become a military power.’ ‘This will trigger a strong backlash and serious concern from the international community,’ he said. According to the official North Korean media report, this was the first time Kim used the terms ‘becoming a military power’ and ‘militarism’ when criticising Japan. Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed his opposition to efforts to ‘revive militarism’ while attending a banquet hosted by Kim in Pyongyang, a statement seen as directed at Japan. Kim also denounced the United States and South Korea for ‘further worsening the situation on the Korean Peninsula’ through military modernisation, war drills, and espionage activities. He urged the acceleration of national defence capability development and asserted that North Korea’s policies have proven correct. ‘This reality once again proves the correctness of all our political choices and the path we are taking,’ he said. Kim pledged that with nuclear technology as the foundation, ‘broader, innovative, and exciting plans will be implemented at an increasingly rapid pace.’ According to KCNA, Kim also called for the continuous enhancement of powerful defence assets to ‘outpace the world.’ He stressed the importance of adhering firmly to the principle of struggle against South Korea, which the Workers’ Party of Korea has designated as ‘the most hostile state.’ The meeting also decided to remove Kim Jae Ryong from his posts as member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Workers’ Party of Korea, party secretary, and department director. KCNA did not explain the reason for the dismissal. Kim Jae Ryong, a former prime minister, was only appointed to the presidium — the party’s highest decision-making body — last February.