New government command center to be set up
Reviewing revisions to the three security laws
Government to buy AI for military use
9 trillion KRW to be invested over five years (approximately 6.75 billion USD)
Reviewing revisions to the three security laws
Government to buy AI for military use
9 trillion KRW to be invested over five years (approximately 6.75 billion USD)
Japan, which has begun allowing exports of lethal weapons to strengthen its defense industry, is preparing to accelerate development under government direction, including possible nationalization of munitions factories. The Asahi Shimbun reported on the 24th that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration is weighing the creation of a new government-supervised organization or strengthening an existing government command role to better manage its weapons-export posture. The moves appear aimed at consolidating and expanding Japan’s defense industrial base under direct government leadership. According to Asahi, the Takaichi government plans to prioritize nationalizing munitions plants — such as ammunition manufacturers — and to revise the so-called three security laws within the year to enable those changes.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told the Nikkei on the 21st, immediately after the policy shift on weapons exports, that shortages of skilled labor and production capacity make it difficult for Japan’s defense firms to ramp up output. “The state will have to take the lead,” he said. “We cannot rely solely on the private sector. We are exchanging views with companies alongside the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.”
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Takaichi administration plans to buy dual-use technologies — artificial intelligence and robots developed by domestic startups that can serve both military and civilian purposes — on a scale of about 1 trillion JPY (approximately 6.7 billion USD) over the next five years (roughly 9.3 trillion KRW (approximately 6.975 billion USD)) to provide a stable development environment.
Analysts say Tokyo’s intervention in a proposed acquisition by South Korea’s private equity firm MBK Partners of Makino Furaisu Manufacturing fits this broader strategy. Makino Furaisu makes dual-use machinery and has defense-related work. Instead, Japan-based private equity firm Nippon Industrial Promotion Organization (NSSK) reportedly stepped forward with an offer to acquire Makino Furaisu. Although NSSK is a private manager, Japanese pension funds are among its backers.
- China also says Samsung Electronics will reach 350,000 KRW (approximately 262.5 USD)…first analysis sets 'highest target'
- Why don’t you give our Neugu food in a bowl?…O-World responds to controversy over animals being fed on the ground
- Accused of 102 days of inadequate service…prosecutors seek 1 year, 6 months for Song Min-ho [Case Plus]
- As airfares rise, regional destinations boom…domestic resort bookings surge
- ‘Our daughter needs to go to Daechi-dong’…Which school you attend made the difference in CSAT scores
- After complaints—Why feed Neugu on the ground?—O-World decides to stop providing photos
- 'Wangsa-nam' discontinuation craze leads to experience-driven spending
- ‘This happens every time I wake up’…Which bad habit acts like a 'toxin' for vascular health? [Healthy Time]
- From April, auto insurance discounts apply under the 'vehicle 5-day rotation' system
- Trump tightens the leash on Iran and waits…Israel says 'waiting on U.S. approval to resume war' [I Tae-gyu's Washington Playbook]
