North Korea warns Japan's nuclear ambition must be 'prevented at any cost'

North Korea has declared that Japan's potential pursuit of nuclear weapons must be prevented "at any cost," issuing a stark warning in response to reports of internal discussions within the Japanese government. The statement, released by the director of the Institute for Japan Studies under North Korea's Foreign Ministry, labeled Japan a "war criminal state" and argued its nuclear armament would bring "a great disaster" to mankind.

Report of Unofficial Remarks Sparks Reaction

The North Korean reaction was triggered by a Kyodo News report detailing an unofficial exchange where a source from the Japanese prime minister's office told journalists that Tokyo “needs to possess nuclear weapons.” These reported remarks prompted criticism from both ruling and opposition parties in Japan, with calls for the official responsible to be removed from their position.

Japan Reaffirms Non-Nuclear Principles

In response to the ensuing controversy, the Japanese government moved to publicly reaffirm its traditional stance. On Friday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara reiterated Japan's commitment to its "three non-nuclear principles," which prohibit the nation from possessing, producing, or permitting the introduction of nuclear arms. Kihara stated that Japan, as the only country to have suffered wartime atomic bombings, would continue to pursue practical measures toward a world without nuclear weapons under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Historical Context and Regional Tensions

Japan's nuclear policy is deeply shaped by the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States in August 1945, which killed an estimated 210,000 people. The recent internal debate and North Korea's fierce reaction highlight the sensitive and volatile nature of nuclear proliferation discussions in Northeast Asia, a region already marked by Pyongyang's own nuclear weapons program and ongoing geopolitical tensions.