tokyo japan defense ministry thursday seek 160 million record budget request develop swift longer-range missiles extend military punch east asia counter grow chinese strength increase north korean threat approve proposal rise 2.5 percent defense spend 5.26 trillion yen 48 billion year start april would sixth straight annual increase prime minister shinzo abe bolster military fund pay ballistic missile defense upgrade six f-35 stealth fighters four v-22 osprey tilt rotor troop carriers besides order new naval vessels include submarine two compact warships around 90 million request missile development fund 160 million go study hypersonic missiles quickly penetrate enemy defenses rest pay research extend missile range technology could potentially use help develop strike weapons south korea air force conduct exercise two u.s. nuclear-capable bombers korean peninsula thursday two days north korean missile fire japan sharply raise tension research development island defense ministry defence official tell brief refer southwestern okinawa island chain skirt east china sea japan embroil territorial dispute china fund missile development though relatively small could nonetheless spark controversy since japan war-renouncing constitution impose restrictions strike weapons military chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman hua chunying say japan consistently hype so-called china threat increase defense spend urge learn lessons history pay heed neighbor security concern regardless reason japan defense spend increase every year reach new historical high express concern hua tell regular press brief lawmakers rule liberal democratic party ldp argue japan need weapons able strike north korean missile sit deter attack pyongyang long range missiles japan arsenal include anti-aircraft anti-ship munition range less 300 kilometers group ldp lawmakers recommend japan acquire strike weapons lead minister defence itsunori onodera take post august propose shift military strategy would face stiff political opposition critics japan say abe hawkish policies go far hurt already soggy popularity strike enemy base attack stop subsequent launch would seem like natural thing would difficult people japan accept current constitution ldp lawmaker say ask identify authorize talk media propose defense budget face scrutiny ministry finance officials may seek rein military outlays juggle demand high spend health welfare japan age population japan seek fund boost missile range days north korea threat