North Korea Slams Japan's Military Plan, Vows To Continue Missile Development

North Korea on Tuesday made it abundantly clear that sanctions won't stop the nation's missile development. Additionally, Pyongyang criticised Japan's new security policy and military build-up and warned that it would demonstrate how “dangerous” and “wrong” the decision was through action.

According to the news agency Reuters, Japan is said to have disclosed its largest military build-up since World War Two amid regional tension with China, links have also been made to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is fueling war fears. A spokesperson for Pyongyang's foreign ministry said, “We will continue to demonstrate through practical actions how much we are concerned and dissatisfied with Japan's unjust and greedy attempts to realise its ambitions.”

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the nation's effort to develop a spy satellite is a “pressing priority directly linked to security.” On Sunday, the nation carried out an “important, final phase” test for the creation of a spy satellite, which it hopes to finish by April 2023.

On Monday, the United States reiterated its offer to work through diplomatic channels to resolve differences and denounced North Korea's most recent ballistic missile launches as a threat to the region.

The nation reported that Kim Jong Un oversaw testing a new solid-fuel rocket engine on 16 December. This engine could improve the nation's capacity to launch quicker-firing, longer-range missiles for delivering nuclear warheads.

In the most recent apparent military exercise close to their shared border on December 5, the South Korean military reported that North Korea fired 130 artillery shells into the ocean off its east and west coasts.

According to South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, North Korea is “ready” and likely will test a nuclear weapon. Although it is “hard to know exactly when” a test would take place, the South Korean premier said, "we gather that they are prepared,” according to Sky News.