In just over a month, the Rodong Sinmun and KCNA have between them featured at least 22 reports denouncing Japan’s shift in military policy and the support given by South Korea and the United States.

The issue is clearly of great concern to Pyongyang, and there are several reasons for this.

Japan is, in fact, making changes to both its military policy and capabilities that will increase their capacity for offensive operations. Japan specifically cites the North Korean threatas a justification for increased military capability and also continues to claim the disputed islets known as Dokdo in Korean and