SAEDNEWS: North Korea has lashed out at Japan after a senior official reportedly suggested that the country needs nuclear weapons
According to RT, North Korea has issued a strong warning against any move by Japan to acquire nuclear weapons, saying such a step would lead to “a great disaster,” as reported by state media on Sunday.
The warning follows controversy sparked last week by remarks from a senior adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Speaking off the record, the adviser suggested Japan may need to reconsider its post–World War II non-nuclear policy, arguing that reliance on the US nuclear deterrent might no longer be sufficient. The comments, described as personal views and reported by NHK, quickly spread online and raised questions about Tokyo’s official stance.
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused Japan’s leadership of openly revealing ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons. The ministry said Japan was “going beyond the red line for a war criminal state” and claimed the remarks reflected a long-standing desire for nuclear armament rather than a careless or isolated comment.
The ministry further described Japan as having a “bellicose and aggressive nature,” criticizing Tokyo for advocating a nuclear-free world while allegedly pursuing nuclear capabilities behind the scenes. It urged the international community to prevent Japan from moving forward with such plans.
Concerns were echoed by other regional powers. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko warned that abandoning Japan’s non-nuclear stance would worsen security in Northeast Asia and prompt countermeasures from countries threatened by increased militarization. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the remarks, if accurate, were “extremely serious” and exposed what he called a dangerous attempt by some in Japan to violate international law.
The comments also drew domestic criticism within Japan, including from both ruling and opposition parties, as well as from Nihon Hidankyo, the organization representing survivors of the atomic bombings.
In response, Japan reaffirmed its commitment to its non-nuclear policy on Friday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated at a press conference that Tokyo would continue efforts “to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.”
Japan remains the only country to have experienced nuclear attacks, following the US bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, which killed an estimated 210,000 people. After World War II, Japan joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and pledged not to possess, manufacture, or deploy nuclear weapons, instead relying on the US nuclear umbrella for its security.
