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North Korea’s Kim says ‘defeated’ Japan transforming into a ‘war state’

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un criticised Japan as turning into a “war state”, in a speech during a three-day meeting held through Monday, according to…

By Samantha Johnson / June 23, 2026
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un criticised Japan as turning into a “war state”, in a speech during a three-day meeting held through Monday, according to official news media.
“Japan, a defeated country in Asia, has openly turned itself into a war state by taking the present disturbing circumstances as an opportunity to get rid of all shackles restricting its moves to become a military power,” he said, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday.

“This is inviting a strong backlash and serious concern from the international community,” he added in the concluding speech during a meeting of the ruling party.

It is believed to be the first time that Kim has referred to “moves to become a military power” and “militarism” in criticising Japan.

Kim also pushed for a faster build-up of national defence capabilities. He vowed that with nuclear technology as a basis, “more extensive, innovative and encouraging plans would be carried out with increasing speed”, the report said.

Kim then set forth “tasks to dynamically carry out the work to increase powerful defence assets without pause in our own way and with a goal of overtaking the world”, KCNA said.

The speech was given during a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

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