Marking its fifth straight annual increase, the Japanese government has approved a record increase in its defense budget. Marking a rise of 1.4 percent from the initial budget for the current fiscal year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved the $43.6 billion (5.13 trillion yen) budget for the country’s defense, for the fiscal year starting in April. The recent rise in defense plans has come in light of growing threats from North Korea and China. North Korea has conducted two underground nuclear tests and more than 20 missile launches this year, that have put Japan on a constant alert.
