North Korea threatens Japan after Tomahawk missile test

North Korea has threatened Japan with new military responses following Tokyo's recent test of a U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missile, according to a statement issued on August 5 by Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of leader Kim Jong Un. The statement, carried by state media, accused Japan of abandoning its postwar defensive posture and transforming its Self-Defense Forces into a military capable of launching preemptive strikes.

Kim Yo Jong specifically pointed to Japan's recent Tomahawk missile test from the destroyer Chokai in the Pacific Ocean, along with other missile launches and its participation in U.S.-led military exercises in the Philippines earlier this year. She warned that North Korea would respond in ways that would make Japan regret its actions and feel its own security had become more vulnerable. The statement also criticized the United States for enabling Japan's military buildup by supplying the missiles, modifying vessels, and supporting the tests.

Analysts suggest the remarks could lay the groundwork for future North Korean military demonstrations, such as missile launches or displays of undersea strike capabilities. They note Pyongyang is seeking to portray...