North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned a senior Japanese official's support for the government possessing nuclear weapons, stating that Japan's nuclear ambitions "must be stopped by any means necessary," calling it a red line that could bring disaster to humanity.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea's main government mouthpiece, published a statement from the director of the Institute of Japanese Studies under North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to a Kyodo News report quoting an unnamed official at the Japanese Prime Minister's Office who said, "I think we (Japan) should possess nuclear weapons."
The official also reasoned, "In the end, we can only rely on ourselves," with the report noting this person is directly involved in formulating Japan's security policy.
North Korea stated that these remarks show Japan openly revealing its nuclear weapons ambitions and "crossing the red line," emphasizing that this effort is not accidental or a slip of the tongue but a long-standing desire of the Japanese government.
The statement said, "Japan's efforts to become a nuclear state must be stopped by any means because it will bring great disaster to the Asian region and all humanity."
Notably, the statement did not mention North Korea's own nuclear program, which has faced international criticism and violated United Nations resolutions continuously since its first test in 2006.
It is currently believed that North Korea possesses several dozen nuclear warheads, with the Pyongyang government consistently insisting it will never give up these weapons, as they are necessary to deter military threats from the United States and its allies.
Earlier in September, Kim Son Gyong, North Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister, declared at the United Nations that nuclear policy is the supreme law and sovereign right of North Korea that will never be surrendered, while Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has said he is willing to negotiate with the United States only if North Korea is allowed to retain its nuclear arsenal.
. Reuters