Regardless of the dictator promising to halt North Korea’s missile testing programme, an annual white paper published by Japan’s Ministry of Defence said the hermit country remains a threat to their security.
The paper read: “North Korea’s military activities pose the most serious and pressing threat our nation has faced.”
The document outlines security concerns about nuclear-armed North Korea, China’s growing military and and Russia’s intent to rebuild its power.
The picture paints Japan as a country surrounded by threats.
The document comes after US President Donald Trump scrapped a trip by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang this week as part of a fresh bid to push North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
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Mr Trump hailed his own historic summit with the North Korea leader in June a success and agreed to halt joint military exercises with South Korea.
This promoted the tyrant to reiterate an easier pledge to work towards removing nuclear weapons from the peninsula.
But negotiations have slowed after Washington demanded tangible steps and Pyongyang asking for US concessions first.
Japan’s white paper added: “We need to keep a careful watch on North Korea to see what concrete action it takes to abandon its nuclear weapons and missiles.”
It also noted North Korea had conducted three nuclear tests and fired 40 ballistic missiles since the start of 2016, with many of these having been shot over to neighbouring Japan.
Japan said last month it planned to buy two Aegis Ashore air defence radar tracking stations from the United States to bolster its defence against North Korean missiles.
The equipment, to be deployed along with interceptor missile batteries, could also be turned against any potential threat from China from 2023 onwards.
The document said: “As Chinese power grows, its military strength is rapidly burgeoning.”
Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the China content in the report was “extremely irresponsible”.
China hopes that Japan is not looking for excuses to expand its own military, and should do more to increase mutual trust between the two countries and to protect regional peace and stability, Ms Hua added.