Japan must consider revising the war-renouncing Article 9 of its Constitution if it wants to become a permanent U.N. Security Council member, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday.
He said it is "entirely" up to the Japanese people to decide on whether to do so.
Powell also tacitly urged Japan to reconsider its oil development deal with Iran, given that Tehran is allegedly trying to build nuclear weapons through a uranium enrichment program.
He reiterated U.S. support for Japan's quest for permanent U.N. Security Council membership and acknowledged the importance of Article 9 to the Japanese people.