North Korea Criticizes U.S.-Japan Missile Production Agreement
North Korea has condemned a recent agreement between Japan and the United States to co-produce air-to-air missiles, describing it as exacerbating regional security risks and representing another instance of Washington's efforts to militarize Japan, according to state media reports on Wednesday. The criticism comes as the United States upgrades its military command in Japan. North Korean officials argue that the two countries' cooperation in munitions production clearly demonstrates military and aggressive intentions directed at countries in the region, state news agency KCNA reported. The statements were attributed to an unnamed vice general director of North Korea's defense ministry, who did not specifically identify target countries. However, the official referenced the AIM-120 air-to-air missile system that the United States and Japan agreed to accelerate co-producing during U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's visit to Tokyo on Sunday. According to the North Korean […]