Japan condemns North Korean missile launch and warns of growing NK‑Russia military ties

Japan’s Defense Ministry said North Korea fired at least one short‑range ballistic missile on June 6, which landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The launch, the sixth reported this year, prompted an emergency response team at the prime minister’s residence and was described as a serious threat to regional peace and Japanese safety.

In its 2026 defense white paper, Japan warned that the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia poses a “significant risk” of strengthening the North Korean armed forces. The document cites the transfer of artillery, short‑range missiles, and the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to the Russian front, as well as the acquisition of drones, electronic‑warfare systems, and advanced missile technology. Japan also highlighted North Korea’s ongoing development of unmanned systems and electronic‑warfare weapons, alongside its nuclear capabilities, and identified China as its greatest strategic challenge.