In a bold departure from decades of pacifist policy, Japan is rapidly overhauling its defense strategy with a new generation of long-range missile systems aimed squarely at deterring — and potentially even striking back against — adversaries like North Korea and China.

The recent activation of a missile regiment in southern Japan marks a key step in Tokyo’s push to acquire “counterstrike capabilities,” a once distance concept that is now at the heart of the country’s evolving military doctrine. Upgraded cruise missiles in particular give Japan the ability to hit targets across the Korean Peninsula and deep