The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday strongly criticized Japan for its latest moves to upgrade weaponry systems.

"The Japanese reactionaries are working with bloodshot eyes to turn Japan into a military power and realize their ambition for overseas expansion...", said a signed commentary carried out by the leading DPRK newspaper Rodong Sinmun.

The commentary accused Japan of deploying the missile defense system and purchasing "F-22A Raptors" from the United States.

The daily said that Japan's moves mean "an undisguised military provocation and threat and blackmail against the DPRK."

Japan is reportedly seeking to buy numerous F-22s, but top U.S. government officials dismissed the prospects for supplying the state-of-art fighter jets to Japan.

Source: Xinhua