On February 11, Yonhap quoted Rodong Sinmun - the mouthpiece of the Workers' Party of Korea - calling on Japan not to establish military alliances with foreign countries, and expressed concern about Tokyo's recent strengthening of trade cooperation in defense equipment with Canada.
Rodong Sinmun commented that Japan is seeking to expand its influence by strengthening military cooperation with major powers. The newspaper said that the signing of defense agreements, the exchange of equipment and information, or the organization of joint exercises are often linked to the framework of military alliances, and noted that Tokyo has in fact established close military cooperation relations with NATO members and some other countries.
The article also reiterates Pyongyang's long-standing view that Japan, as a country with a complex war history, should not expand its military role, and considers participating in military alliances as a sensitive issue.
Previously, on January 27, Japan and Canada signed the Agreement on the Transfer of Equipment and Technology (ETTA) to strengthen bilateral defense and security cooperation in Ottawa.
The agreement was signed by Canadian Defense Minister David J. McGuinty and Japanese Ambassador to Canada Kanji Yamanouchi, creating a legal framework for companies of the two countries to jointly develop projects requiring the transfer of equipment, technology and intellectual property, while opening up new equipment supply for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Minister McGuinty emphasized: "Strengthening security and defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region is essential, and the signing of the ETTA marks an important step forward in the Canada-Japan defense partnership.
The Japanese side also posted information about the signing of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Canada on the transfer of defense equipment and technology, confirming this event on the website of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Japan said that this agreement establishes a legal framework to handle the transfer of defense equipment and technology between the two governments, serving commonly identified projects, including projects contributing to international peace and security.
In July 2025, the two countries also signed the Information Security Agreement, expanding cooperation in the fields of defense industry, intelligence, space and cybersecurity.
Observers assess that these moves show that the security and defense relationship between Japan and Canada is progressing towards being more comprehensive, in line with common strategic interests in the context of the challenging security environment of the Indo-Pacific region.
