◀ Anchor ▶
Japan’s rearmament has become a reality.
It was decided to possess long-range missiles capable of directly counterattacking the enemy’s mainland, breaking the principle of the Japanese Peace Constitution, which states that only minimal defense is required.
In five years, Japan’s defense budget will grow to twice the size of Korea’s, making it the third largest military power in the world.
Correspondent Hyun Young-joon reports from Tokyo.
◀ Report ▶
Japan has completely revised its national security strategy.
The key is counterattack ability.
Until now, minimal defense was the rule, but now you can actively attack the enemy’s homeland.
The concept of exclusive defense in the Peace Constitution, which had been maintained for 75 years following the war, was virtually neutralized without any revision process.
[기시다 후미오/일본 총리]
“With the determination to resolutely fulfill the mission as Prime Minister to protect the country and the people…”
To this end, it was decided to develop a long-range missile with a range of 1,000 km, targeting parts of China and all of North Korea, but Korea is also within range.
In addition, it confirmed the next year’s budget of 2 trillion won, saying that it would immediately import 500 American-made Tomahawk missiles with a range of 1,600 km.
Next year’s defense budget has also increased by 25% from this year to 65 trillion won, the largest ever.
Five years later, the defense budget will increase to 10 trillion yen every year, regarding 95 trillion won in Korea, which is regarding twice that of Korea, and will be the third largest in the world following the United States and China.
Public opinion is also gaining strength.
In a Yomiuri Shimbun survey, 68% of Japanese people supported strengthening defense capabilities.
[스기하라/회사원]
“Since the world situation is unstable right now, I agree with strengthening the defense capability because it means defending one’s own country on its own.”
The problem is funding.
Prime Minister Kishida said he would raise taxes such as corporate tax and tobacco tax, but the opposition party as well as the ruling party are protesting.
[시바야마 마사히코/의원 (자민당)]
“I am also curious as to why such (tax increase) must be included in the year-end tax system.”
“As the trade deficit and rising inflation effectively put the brakes on the Japanese government’s policy to raise more taxes at a difficult time for everyone, we have postponed the decision to discuss once more next year when the tax will be collected.”
Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protests Japan’s still including Dokdo’s territorial claim in its revised national security strategy, and has summoned the Japanese ambassador to Korea Kumagai to urge it to be deleted.
This is MBC News Hyun Young-joon from Tokyo.
Video coverage: Kim Jin-ho (Tokyo) / Video editing: Kim Chang-gyu
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