Japan is considering sharply increasing its defense spending to more than ¥40 trillion ($279 billion) over the next five years, government officials have said.

The amount compares with the ¥27.47 trillion in total specified as defense costs for five years through fiscal 2023 in the country's Medium Term Defense Program, the officials said Saturday.

The plan reflects Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's pledge to "fundamentally reinforce" the country's defense capabilities in the face of China's military expansion and North Korea's rapid nuclear and missile development.