An outline of the defense paper also says that North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs are a threat that has entered a new phase.

The Defense Ministry is expected to report the white paper to a cabinet meeting in early August, informed sources said.

Referring to an exercise conducted by Chinese navy warships and bombers in the Sea of Japan in January, the outline warns that the Chinese military is expected to expand its activities in the sea.

China is apparently aiming to warn against the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the US military that are boosting cooperation in dealing with North Korea, analysts said.

The outline says activities by Chinese air and naval forces are tending to increase in the East China Sea as well, noting that the number of scrambles by Japanese Air SDF fighters against Chinese military planes has hit a record high and that the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was spotted in waters near Japan for the first time last December. (Jiji Press)