The Japanese Defense Ministry on Friday proposed a record budget of 8.5 trillion yen (approximately $58.5 billion) for the fiscal year starting April 1, 2025, and ending March 31, 2026. This budget increase aims to enhance Japan's defense capabilities.

"On Aug 30, [Japan's Defense Ministry] JMOD held the Ministry Meeting attended by [Defense Minister Minoru] Kihara and approved the FY25 Budget Request. FY25 is the 3rd year under the Defense Buildup Program [DBP]. JMOD requested 8.5tril [yen], consisting of programs which need to be started within FY25 to realize the DBP," the ministry wrote on X.

On Aug 30, #JMOD held the Ministry Meeting attended by DMKihara and approved the FY25 Budget Request. FY25 is the 3rd year under the Defense Buildup Program. JMOD requested \ 8.5tril., consisting of programs which need to be started within FY25 to realize the DBP. pic.twitter.com/LlW6x8jhUY

— Japan Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces (@ModJapan_en) August 30, 2024

According to a document published by the ministry, the budget request includes 970 billion yen to enhance stand-off missile capabilities, 537 billion yen to improve integrated air defense and missile defense control systems, and 103 billion yen for drone development.

The ministry has also requested 227 billion yen to bolster its space capabilities and 265 billion yen to enhance cybersecurity measures.

The budget plan includes three new projects: 18 billion yen to develop a system for remotely monitoring garrisons and other protected facilities, 4.3 billion yen to create a warehouse automation system, and 1.9 billion yen to design an artificial intelligence-based system for forecasting supply needs.

The document also outlines a plan to construct three new FFM-class destroyers, which would cost the ministry 314 billion yen.

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The initially requested budget for the 2025 financial year is 7.4% higher than the budget initially requested for 2024.

Read more: DPRK condemns drills by US, Japan, S. Korea as 'Asian NATO'

This comes in light of tensions that have recently escalated due to various military actions and strategic developments in the region.

The US, South Korea, and Japan recently held their largest-ever naval drills in the Korean peninsula with the aim of simulating a potential aggression on the DPRK.

The DPRK has, in turn, threatened to respond to these military exercises with its own displays of force, including missile tests and other provocations.

DPRK conducts test-firing of MLRS 

On Wednesday, DPRK leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the test-firing of an upgraded 240mm multiple rocket launcher system  (MRLS) equipped with a new "guiding system".

Başkan Kim Jong Un 240mm Kalibre MRLS'nin Test Atışını İzledi.

Manevra kabiliyeti ve konsantre atış kabiliyeti teknik olarak güncellenen MRLS, yeni uygulanan güdümlü sistem, kontrol edilebilirlik ve tahrip gücü de dahil olmak üzere tüm endekslerde avantajlı olduğunu kanıtladı. pic.twitter.com/m4ZFLutmfx

— Korea Insights (@dprk_kdhc) August 28, 2024

On Monday, Pyongyang revealed its latest suicide drone designed to intentionally crash into enemy targets, acting as a guided missile. 

Back in February, the DPRK announced its development of a new control system for a multiple rocket launcher that would result in "qualitative change" in its defense capabilities, while stating in May that the updated weapon would be "deployed to units of the Korean People's Army as replacement equipment from 2024 to 2026.”