Japan Must Be Stopped at Any Cost,” North Korea Says Over Nuclear Weapons Claim

North Korea on Sunday strongly criticized Japan after reports emerged that a senior official in Tokyo suggested the country should acquire nuclear weapons. Pyongyang warned that any move by Japan toward nuclear armament must be stopped “at any cost.”

The reaction followed a Kyodo News report from Thursday quoting an unnamed official from Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office who allegedly stated, “I think we should possess nuclear weapons.” The official was said to be involved in shaping Japan’s security policy.

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Tokyo Official’s Remarks Spark Alarm

According to the report, the official argued that Japan could not rely entirely on external allies, saying, “In the end, we can only rely on ourselves,” when justifying the need for nuclear weapons.

North Korea said these comments revealed Japan’s true intentions and accused Tokyo of crossing a “red line” by openly expressing ambitions to develop nuclear arms.

Pyongyang Warns of Regional and Global Disaster

In a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the director of the Institute for Japan Studies under North Korea’s Foreign Ministry warned that Japan’s nuclear ambitions pose a serious threat.

“Japan’s attempt to go nuclear must be prevented at any cost, as it would bring a catastrophic disaster to humanity,” the official said. He added that Japan’s actions reflect a long-standing desire to become a nuclear-armed state rather than an isolated or careless remark.

The official further warned that Japan obtaining nuclear weapons would expose Asia to severe nuclear risks and endanger global peace.

Silence on North Korea’s Own Nuclear Program

The statement did not address North Korea’s own nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, defying United Nations resolutions.

North Korea is widely believed to possess dozens of nuclear warheads and has consistently pledged to retain them, despite extensive international sanctions. The regime claims its nuclear arsenal is necessary to deter perceived military threats from the United States and its allies.

Pyongyang Reaffirms Commitment to Nuclear Weapons

Speaking at the United Nations in September, North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong reaffirmed that the country would never abandon its nuclear weapons.

“We will never give up nuclear weapons, which are our state law, national policy, sovereign right, and guarantee of survival,” he said, emphasizing that this position would not change under any circumstances.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has also indicated a willingness to engage in talks with Washington, but only if Pyongyang is allowed to maintain its nuclear arsenal.