Japan's military seeks record spending to counter North Korea, China moves

Japan Self-Defence Forces soldiers prepare to refuel a unit of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo April 10, 2013. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File photo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's defence ministry on Wednesday asked for a hike in spending to record levels, as it juggles its responses to a growing ballistic missile threat from North Korea and China's assertive moves in the East China Sea.

If approved, the hike of 2.3 percent will take the defence budget to 5.17 trillion yen (39.3 billion pounds) in the year starting April 1, for a fifth consecutive increase as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bolsters Japan's military.