Pyongyang warns Tokyo over missiles that could reach China, North Korea

Kim Jong Un speaks on a telephone while seated at a desk with his daughter.

This photo provided by the North Korean government shows its leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter, left, watch what it says were vcruise missiles launches from the naval destroyer, the Choe Hyon, via video Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in North Korea. (Korean Central News Agency, Korea News Service/AP)

North Korea on Friday condemned Japan’s plan to deploy upgraded long-range missiles across the country, calling the move a dangerous military escalation, according to the communist regime’s state-run media.

The criticism was reported by the Korean Central News Agency, which said the deployments would allow Japan to target neighboring countries from multiple locations.

The missile deployments are “undoubtably an extremely dangerous military act,” KCNA said. “If this becomes reality, Japan would be deploying missiles capable of targeting neighboring countries across the entire nation.”

Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced Monday that a Type-12 missile unit will be deployed by March 31 to Camp Kengun on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands.

Tokyo also plans to station a Type-12 unit at Camp Fuji by March 2028 and deploy high-velocity gliding missiles to that site beginning this month.

The upgraded Type-12 has a range of about 620 miles and can be launched from land, sea or air platforms, according to Japanese defense officials. From Kyushu, the upgraded weapon could reach parts of China’s coastline and North Korea.

Japan insists its missiles are for “defensive purposes” but are capable of extended range and multiple operational roles, according to KCNA.

“Despite strong concerns and criticism from the public, if Japan continues to act inappropriately and recklessly as it is now, it will inevitably cross the ‘red line’ that will bring themselves into ‘submergence,’ ” KCNA said.

Japan has expanded its missile defenses in recent years as tension rise with both China and North Korea.

North Korea twice so far this month has test-launched cruise missiles from a new destroyer, along with separate tests in January and December. It launched a ballistic missile east over the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, in November.