The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accused Japan of a "transformation into a war state" on Wednesday as Tokyo beefs up its military stance in the Pacific. In a statement carried by North Korean state media, Kim Yo Jong said Pyongyang's "leadership will set up additional military options which are obviously due to Japan's transformation." Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement Advertisement"Japan, a war criminal state, is accelerating its transformation into a war state," said her statement published by the Korean Central News Agency. The legacy of the violent colonial period continues to weigh on the foreign policies of both North and South Korea. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, 27 July, 2026 - AP PhotoRelations have worsened since Tokyo's hawkish new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made comments in November suggesting Chinese action to seize Taiwan could merit a reaction from Japan's military.