The Japanese Defence Ministry is expected to request a record-high defence budget of £34.6 billion (5.19 trillion yen) for the next tax year, as tensions continue to rise on the Korean Peninsula.
The defence budget will be included in the countries budgetary which commences on April 1 2018 and is expected to reach a record-breaking £650 billion (97.7 trillion yen).
The majority of the budget is expected to be spent on protecting Japan against North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile development.
The extra funding would cover the cost of preparations for introducing the US military’s Aegis Ashore land-based missile interceptor system.
The initial draft of the defence budget for the fiscal year 2018 was released by the Japanese Defence Ministry in late August.
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The document specified the purchase of six F-35A fighter jets, four V-22 Osprey tiltrotor military aircraft, as well as the construction of two advanced and compact patrol ships and a new submarine.
The Defence Ministry also hopes to develop the next-generation of radar systems, which would have the capability of detecting stealth fighters.
There are also plans to purchase advanced missiles for anti-missile systems, including SM-3 Block IIA and Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors.
Japan is protected by destroyers equipped with US Aegis missile defence systems as well as surface-to-air PAC 3.
To ensure their safety, Japan has relied heavily on the US as following World War 2, the renunciation of military forces and warfare became treasured in the Japanese Constitution.
Over the last few years, Japan has been harbouring a goal of amending its pacifist Constitution, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announcing a plan to revise the sanction by 2020.
Japan’s worries have been prompted by the provocative actions of North Korea.
This is not set to settle anytime soon, as it has been reported that North Korea could launch a symbolic missile strike this weekend on the anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s death.
Kim Jong-il died on December 17 2011, paving the way for his son to take control in the hermit state.
And experts fear a symbolic event could be planned for the anniversary on Sunday.
Kim Jong-il and his father Kim il-Sung, founding member of North Korea’s current dictatorial dynasty, are seen as demigods in the rogue state.
On numerous dates during the year, citizens are expected to visit statues of the pair to leave flowers, while portraits hang in every home.
This year experts fear the adulation of Kim Jong-il could reach deadly extremes with a missile strike authorised by his increasingly volatile son.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC has warned a test is likely to take place soon.
They said there was an “elevated chance of provocations” this month, with a “ballistic missile test expected on December 17th.”