Japan plans to spend $46 billion to deal with North Korea

The Japanese government continues to increase its planned defense spending, largely to counter the threat from North Korea.

Japanese people watch North Korean missiles on TV. Photo: AP.

Japan's defense budget for fiscal 2018 is a record high, at5.19 trillion Yen, equivalent to$46 billion to strengthen defenses against threats from North Korea,Nikkei reported on Tokyo's plan on December 16.

The new fiscal year begins in April 2018. Most of the increase will be used to help Japan counter North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs.The budget will also pay for preparing missile defense systems.Aegis Ashore.

This is the sixth consecutive year that Japan's defense budget has increased, from 5.12 trillion yen, or $45.4 billion, last fiscal year.

Japanese Minister of DefenseItsunori Onodera said last week that the country plans to buy cruise missiles from US companies, which have a range of up to 900 km. The planThe above has become a controversial topic because the Japanese parliament has a provision prohibiting the use of force to resolve international disputes.

In 2017, Japan had to face continuous threats from North Korea.The climax was when two missiles flew over Hokkaido island in the far north of Japan on August 29 and September 15.

Speaking at the United Nations meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono described North Korea as the most urgent and serious threat facing the international community.

Japan, the United States and South Korea have imposed unilateral sanctions on North Korea, in parallel with sanctions from the United Nations, to increase pressure on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile programs. However, there is no sign that North Korea wants to stop its nuclear and missile development programs.

According to VNE