 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Japanese Leader Says He Will Stop Discussing Nuclear Weapons
Tokyo (AFP) Nov 14, 2006 Senior policymaker Shoichi Nakagawa promised Tuesday to stop making controversial calls for Japan to consider nuclear weapons but said the country still must address the North Korean threat. Nakagawa, the policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, alluded to changes since he first made his statement on nuclear weapons, including North Korea's agreement to return to six-nation disarmament talks. "I said I will suspend the nuclear debate for a while but I believe the issue of the threat to Japan has to be discussed," Nakagawa told a small group of French journalists. After North Korea tested an atom bomb last month, Nakagawa called for Japan to debate whether to develop nuclear weapons -- a longtime taboo in the only country to have been attacked with atomic bombs. His statement was supported by Foreign Minister Taro Aso. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a conservative who is close to Nakagawa, has rejected even considering the nuclear option but said his aides had the right to speak out. "I have never denied my own comments. But after I spoke there have been changes in the North Korean situation along with the US midterm vote results," Nakagawa said. "After considering these changes in the international environment, I am changing my stance." US President George W. Bush's Republican Party suffered a severe defeat to the rival Democrats in congressional elections last week. Bush has branded North Korea part of an "axis of evil" and refused bilateral talks with Pyongyang -- an option favored by many Democrats. Nakagawa said Japan, like the Bush administration, preferred the six-nation format, which includes China, Japan, Russia and South Korea. "It's no good," he said of bilateral talks. "The basis of the negotiations is the six-party talks." Nakagawa's calls for a nuclear debate have set off criticism from neighboring countries, with Russia warning of a regional arms race. Abe has refused calls from the opposition to sack Aso, the foreign minister, to show his commitment against nuclear weapons. Abe, Japan's first premier born after World War II, has supported a larger military role for Japan including rewriting the US-imposed 1947 pacifist constitution. His cabinet on Tuesday reiterated its stance that Japan has the legal right to nuclear weapons even though it will not pursue the option. "Purely from a theoretical viewpoint, the possession of a necessary minimum of nuclear weapons does not necessarily mean that it violates Article 9 of the constitution" which bans the use of force in solving international disputes, said a statement approved by the cabinet. But the statement, issued in response to a question from a parliament member, said that the cabinet "does not have the intention of discussing the need to review the non-nuclear principles." It was referring to Japan's 1967 policy of refusing the possession, production or presence of nuclear weapons on its soil. US nuclear bombs obliterated Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the final days of World War II, killing more than 210,000 people.
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Liberal Democratic Party Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
North Korea Says Its Nuclear Weapons Are Designed To Protect South Korea
Seoul (AFP) Nov 13, 2006North Korea said Monday its atomic weapons programme is designed to protect South Korea from a US nuclear threat, and blasted Seoul's main opposition party as traitors over their call for sanctions. Rodong Sinmun, newspaper of the ruling communist party, said the "war deterrent" -- its term for the nuclear programme -- was created to avert moves by "US imperialists" to launch a nuclear war and invade the North. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
