Japan's attempt to go nuclear must be prevented: DPRK

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said that Japan's attempt to go nuclear must be prevented, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday.

Japan has revealed its ambition to seek nuclear weapons, crossing a red line for a war criminal state, the news agency said, citing a press statement by the director of the Institute for Japan Studies under DPRK's Foreign Ministry.

The ministry said Japan is revising its military security policies, as evidenced by the strengthening of its preemptive-attack capability, the easing of arms export restrictions, and the reexamination of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

"This is not a misstatement, but clearly reflects Japan's long-cherished ambition for nuclear armament," said the press statement. It added that this constitutes an open challenge to Japan's Constitution as well as to all international laws that stipulate the duties of a defeated nation, referring to Japan's loss in World War II.

"Such reckless remarks made by a high-ranking official in charge of recommending security policies to the government prove that the Japanese political circle is trying hard to possess nuclear weapons, and clearly show Japan's bellicose and aggressive nature," it said.

The history of aggression of Japan clearly proves that if the country were to possess nuclear weapons, Asian countries would suffer horribly, and humanity would face a great disaster, the statement said, noting that peace-loving people should resolutely check Japan's military ambitions.