Japan has the technological know-how to produce a nuclear weapon but has no immediate plans to do so, the foreign minister said today.
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, 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.
The non-nuclear stance has come under increasing scrutiny, however, since North Korea's October 9th 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.
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.
But several high-ranking government and ruling party members, including Mr Aso, have argued for a high-level reappraisal of the nuclear policy in light of the North Korean threat.