Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda warned graduating Self-Defense Forces cadets Sunday that North Korea's bid to step up its nuclear and missile programs and China's increased military buildup and maritime activities are growing concerns for Japan.
"Moves by North Korea, including nuclear and missile issues, and China, which is reinforcing its military capabilities and continuing vigorous activities in surrounding waters, are growing increasingly severe," Noda said at the graduation ceremony for the National Defense Academy in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture.
He also praised the SDF's unprecedented rescue and relief operation for the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku.
"It will hold a place in history for a long time that 100,000 troops were involved, the largest number ever, and (the mission) earned high marks from the public," he said.
With the U.S. military also helping out with Operation Tomodachi, he said, "I felt even more keenly the bond of the Japan-U.S. alliance. I want you to support from your fields the efforts to deepen and develop this relationship."
On the global front, Japan has earned "trust as a peaceful nation" through the SDF's international missions.