Polls & Research

Japan Rejects Becoming Nuclear State

- Many Japanese adults think their country should not develop or obtain nuclear arms, according to a poll by Yomiuri. 78 per cent of respondents oppose Japan's acquisition of such weapons.

Kim Jong-il has been the de-facto leader of North Korea since the death of his father, Kim Il Song, in 1994. North Korea was branded as part of an "axis of evil" by U.S. president George W. Bush in January 2002. In February 2005, the government of North Korea admitted publicly for the first time that it possesses nuclear weapons.

In July, North Korea launched seven missiles—including the Taepodong-2—which landed in the Sea of Japan close to Russian coastal areas. On Oct. 9, the country announced it had successfully carried out a test detonation of a nuclear weapon.

On Oct. 18, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe declared that his government would not pursue nuclear weapons, saying, "The debate is finished." On Nov. 20, Abe discussed the issue once again, saying, "In my meeting with (Chinese president Hu Jintao), I reiterated that Japan will not obtain nuclear weapons. I also spoke of the necessity for nuclear countries to reduce their arsenals."

The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed when two separate nuclear bombs were dropped on Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, 1945. At least 100,000 people died in the blasts, and many more over time due to the effects of radiation. U.S. president Harry Truman authorized the nuclear attack in order to bring a quick resolution to World War II. Japan surrendered six days after the Nagasaki bombing, bringing an end to both World War II and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Before the start of 2005, seven countries in the world—Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States—had acknowledged possessing nuclear arsenals. Under the "strategic ambiguity" policy, Israel has refused to publicly discuss its purported nuclear capabilities.

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose Japan's acquisition of nuclear weapons?