Japan's new defense minister, Tomomi Inada, courted controversy on her very first day on the job, as she issued a stern warning to neighbors North Korea and China, Japan Today reported.

Inada singled out both countries for using coercive "force" to settle longstanding territorial disputes. The newly appointed defense minister issued the warning as she performed a ceremonial review of Japan's Self-Defense Forces on Thursday.

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"China has rapidly become active in waters and airspace surrounding (Japan) and it continues its attempt to change the status quo through force," Inada said.           

Inada's remarks were aimed at China for its construction in the disputed South China Sea waters.

Speaking on North Korea, Inada said: "North Korea is repeating militarily provocative acts such as nuclear testing and a series of ballistic missile launches." Inada's remark was made just hours after Pyongyang tested a ballistic missile that landed in Japanese territorial water.

Inada dodged questions on country's controversial wartime past while addressing a press conference on Thursday. "I'm not in a position to express my personal opinion here," she said when asked about Japan's act of aggression during World War 2.  

China has often accused Japan of not acknowledging its wartime crimes.

Tomomi Inada is known for her Nationalist Views  

Inada is considered to be one of the close confidantes of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The closeness between both leaders is largely due to their conservative nationalist views on security and foreign policy issues              

Both leaders firmly believe in revising Japan's post-war pacifist constitution, considered by many Japanese politicianS as a symbol of the country's humiliating defeat in World War 2.

Inada's hawkish views on security matters have made her an immensely unpopular figure in China as well as in South Korea and North Korea.

TagsJapan, China and North Korea, Tomomi Inada, Japan and China, china