The ambassador to the United States has dismissed speculation that Japan may arm itself with nuclear weapons in response to North Korea's suspected nuclear arms program.
"There is no possibility of nuclear armament by Japan," Ryozo Kato said Friday at a news conference.
There has been talk in the U.S. about the possibility of Japan building a nuclear arsenal after North Korea reportedly admitted to having a uranium enrichment program and later restarted operations of nuclear facilities for suspected nuclear arms development.
Kato said he has been asked about the possibility of nuclear armament at his recent speeches, but there is no serious debate on the issue among U.S. government officials.