Japan defence review warns of enhanced North Korea threats

FILE PHOTO:Members of Japan's Self-Defence Forces' infantry unit march during the annual SDF ceremony at Asaka Base, Japan, October 23, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan warned on Tuesday against the acute threat posed by North Korea's weapons programmes as Pyongyang's continued series of missile and nuclear tests, in defiance of U.N. sanctions, brings technological progress to the reclusive state.

Japan released its annual Defence White Paper after North Korea fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) last month on lofted trajectories to land off Japan's west coast.