JAPAN is paving the way for war against North Korea by ushering in new laws allowing the country to launch pre-emptive strikes after despot Kim Jong-un angered the region with missile tests.

Hiroshi Imazu, the head of Japan's ruling party, told The Washington Post: "Japan can't just wait until its destroyed. It's legally possible for Japan to strike an enemy base that's launching a missile at us, but we don't have the equipment or capability."

3 Credit: Getty Images

Japan wants to create a new law allowing it to launch a pre-emptive strike against North Korea

3 Kim Jong-un was pictured laughing maniacally as he watched the missile test

3 Four ballistic rockets were fired by the North, landing in Japan's territory

Discussions surrounding the law change were supported by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and defence minister Gen Nakatani.

Nakatani told the paper: "I believe that we should consider having the capacity to strike."

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Japan's current constitution, created in the wake of the Second World War, means it is illegal for the country to launch an attack - it can only go to war in self-defence.

But a group of influential politicians are lobbying for the law change that would allow them to take the front foot against North Korea.

Last week Japan also began staging mass evacuation drills as tensions in the region heated up.

Just hours ago it was reported Kim Jong-un was preparing another nuke test to commemorate his dead grandad's birthday.

There has been increased activity at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Korea leading experts to believe the country’s next nuclear test is imminent, according to the Yonhap news agency.

Kim Jong-un recently threatened to reduce the US “to ashes” as tensions with North Korea continue to increase.

And just last week, a propaganda video mocked up his troop's destroying a US aircraft carrier and downing a bomber jet.

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