Japan's new defense chief criticizes North Korea, China

Japan's new Defense Minister Tomomi Inada has criticized North Korea and China over their military activities in the region.

Inada, a close confidante of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with staunchly nationalist views, made the remark as she reviewed troops on her first day in the job.

She stressed that Pyongyang “is repeating militarily provocative acts such as nuclear testing and a series of ballistic missile launches."

On Wednesday, North Korea launched two intermediate-range missiles. 

One of the projectiles reportedly exploded shortly after takeoff and the second landed in the Sea of Japan some 250 kilometers (155 miles) off the country’s northern coast.

Tensions have been flaring in the region since January, when North Korea said it had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb, its fourth nuclear test, and vowed to build up its nuclear program as deterrence against potential aggression from the US and its regional allies.

Elsewhere in her remarks, Inada, previously the ruling party policy chief, also accused China of looking to change the status quo through the use of force in the disputed seas.

"China has rapidly become active in waters and airspace surrounding (Japan) and it continues its attempt to change the status quo through force."

Earlier this week, Tokyo strongly criticized Beijing, waning that China’s aggressive stance in territorial disputes risks sparking unintended conflict.

SS