In his first National Assembly speech, he stated,"South Korea, the US, and Japan are deepening their consultations... North Korea's nuclear and missile development cannot be tolerated."

"Fundamentally strengthening defense capabilities...Revising three major security documents next year."

(Tokyo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Park Sang-hyun = Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in her first speech to the Diet on the 24th,"We will seek to strengthen relations with South Korea, an important neighboring country, through summit talks."

Prime Minister Takaichi said this in his speech to the extraordinary session of the Diet that afternoon, saying,"We will strive to strengthen cooperation with countries that share basic values and with countries in the Global South (emerging and developing countries mainly located in the Southern Hemisphere)."

Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks on Korea that day were somewhat shorter compared to his predecessor, former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's previous speeches to the Diet.

However, at his inauguration press conference on the 21st, when asked about Korea-Japan relations, he expressed his intention to continue the Korea-Japan cooperation by saying,"I want to develop them in a future-oriented and stable manner."

Prime Minister Takaichi said regarding the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which the South Korean government is considering joining,"We will work to expand membership from a strategic perspective."

The CPTPP is a multilateral free trade agreement (FTA) formed by countries in the Asia-Pacific region and launched in 2018. The UK joined in December of last year. It currently has 12 member states.

Regarding Japan-U.S. relations, Prime Minister Takaichi emphasized that “the Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of our foreign and security policies,” and that he would build trust with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is visiting Japan next week, and elevate bilateral relations to a higher level.

He added,"We will also deepen multilateral security consultations, including among Japan, the US, and South Korea, Japan, the US, and the Philippines, and Japan, the US, Australia, and India."

Prime Minister Takaichi said,"The international order is being severely shaken by intensifying geopolitical competition," and pointed out that "military trends in China, North Korea, and Russia are a serious concern."

He also said that China "needs to build constructive and stable relations with an important neighboring country."

He continued,"It is true that there are security and economic security concerns between Japan and China," adding,"We will comprehensively pursue a strategic mutually beneficial relationship through repeated frank dialogue between the leaders."

Prime Minister Takaichi said,"North Korea's nuclear and missile development is absolutely unacceptable," and added that he would work to ensure the early return of Japanese abductees.

Prime Minister Takaichi also clearly stated his intention to increase defense spending (defense budget) and strengthen defense capabilities.

He emphasized,"We are seeing changes in the security environment, including the emergence of new combat methods," and "We need to proactively pursue fundamental strengthening of our defense capabilities."

Regarding the timing of achieving the 2% defense budget compared to GDP, he said,"We will seek measures to bring it forward to 2025 by combining the supplementary budget," and "We will begin reviewing the revision of the three major security documents within the next year."

He added,"We will also work to strengthen our defense production base and technology base, and improve the treatment of Self-Defense Force personnel, who are the core of our defense capabilities."

The Japanese government revised its three major security documents in December 2022 and decided to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP in fiscal year 2027 (April 2027 to March 2028).

Japan's defense budget was just over 1% of GDP in 2022, but has steadily increased since then, reaching 1.8% of GDP in fiscal year 2025.

However, the Takaichi Cabinet, citing the severe security environment and President Trump's pressure to increase defense spending as excuses, officially announced today its plan to further increase defense spending through this year's supplementary budget and other measures to bring forward the goal of achieving 2% of GDP in defense spending by two years to 2025.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, along with its new coalition partner, the Japan Restoration Party, has decided to pursue the acquisition of next-generation powered submarines with nuclear submarines in mind, but Prime Minister Takaichi has not specifically mentioned this.

Regarding the amendment of the Peace Constitution, he said,"I hope that constructive discussions will accelerate across party lines so that it can be proposed in the National Assembly during my term as Prime Minister."

According to Kyodo News, Prime Minister Takaichi also presented the direction of high-price measures and economic policies, saying,"We will turn anxiety about life and the future into hope and create a strong economy."

He announced that he would strategically spend his finances based on the concept of "responsible active fiscal policy" and establish the "Japan Growth Strategy Council" to achieve economic growth through advanced technology.

Regarding foreign policy, he said,"It is true that some foreigners' illegal activities are causing the public to feel uneasy and unfair," and that he would demand that foreigners comply with the rules and promote a review of land acquisition regulations.

The Japanese Prime Minister's speeches to the Diet include policy speeches during regular sessions, outlining national agenda for the new year, and statements of conviction during extraordinary or special sessions, outlining the direction of national administration. (Reporting assistance: Correspondent Kim Ji-soo)