Japan capable of making nuclear weapon
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer Thu Nov 30, 2:16 AM
ET
TOKYO - Japan has the technological know-how to produce a nuclear
weapon but has no immediate plans to do so, the foreign minister
said Thursday, several weeks after communist
North Korea carried out a nuclear test.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who has called for discussion of Japan's
non-nuclear policy, also asserted in parliament that the pacifist
constitution does not forbid possession of the bomb.
"Japan is capable of producing nuclear weapons," Aso told a
parliamentary committee on security issues. "But we are not saying
we have plans to possess nuclear weapons."
Japan, the only country ever attacked by atomic weapons, has for
decades espoused a strict policy of not possessing, developing or
allowing the introduction of nuclear bombs on its territory.
Aso's comments appear to be stronger than those made last month by
Defense Minister Fimio Kyuma, who stated that Japan has "advanced
technology and missile capabilities so perhaps we do have the
potential to make nuclear arms."
The non-nuclear stance has come under increasing scrutiny since
North Korea's Oct. 9 nuclear test, which raised severe security
concerns in Japan.
The test has raised fears it could trigger a regional arms race.
The North's nuclear test followed Pyongyang's test firing of
several ballistic missiles capable of hitting Japan.
Kiyomi Tsujimoto of pacifist opposition Social Democratic Party,
criticized Aso for supporting open debate over a possession of
nuclear weapons amid such concerns.
"International community is greatly concerned about Japan's
plutonium possession," she said. "As foreign minister, Mr. Aso, are
you aware of global impact of saying it's not bad to discuss
nuclear possession under the circumstances?"
Aso, however, denied he was fanning the debate.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asserted several times since the test
that Japan would not stray from its non-nuclear policy, and he has
refused to initiate a formal review of that stance.
Several high-ranking government and ruling party members, however,
including Aso, have argued for a high-level reappraisal of the
nuclear policy in light of the North Korean threat.
In a hearing before the lower house of parliament's Security
Committee, Aso reiterated his belief that the constitution's
pacifist clause does not prevent Japan from having nuclear bombs
for the purpose of defense.
The constitution's Article 9 bars Japan from the use of force to
settle international disputes.
"Possession of minimum level of arms for defense is not prohibited
under the Article 9 of the Constitution," Aso said. "Even nuclear
weapons, if there are any that fall within that limit, they are not
prohibited."
