S/ Kihara Minoru, Chief Cabinet Secretary / I will refrain from commenting on individual media reports. I will say that the government firmly upholds the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as a matter of policy.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru made the comment after being asked about a senior government official’s reported remarks that Japan should possess nuclear weapons.
 
The official who belongs to the Takaichi administration told reporters this on December 18, describing it as a “personal opinion.”

While avoiding direct comment on the official’s remarks, Kihara emphasized that Japan, as the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during war, will continue efforts toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons.

The top government spokesman declined to say whether the official should be held accountable for the remarks.

The Three Non-Nuclear Principles call for not possessing, not producing and not permitting the entry of nuclear weapons into Japan.

S/ Nakatani Gen, Former Defense Minister / Those in government positions should refrain from casually expressing personal opinions. Now that the remarks have become public, appropriate action must be taken.

Former Defense Minister Nakatani Gen indicated that the official should take responsibility, including the possibility of resigning.