All options on table for Japan, including nuclear submarines, says defence minister

TOKYO - Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi reiterated on Oct 31 that all options are on the table to strengthen Japan’s defence capabilities, including the use of nuclear power to propel Japanese submarines, in the light of the increasingly severe security environment.

The remark came a day after US President Donald Trump said he has granted

South Korea approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine

in a Philadelphia shipyard, which would allow Seoul to join six nations with such vessels.

Mr Koizumi, who took the ministerial post in

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet

on Oct 21, said the following day at a press conference that all options were on the table when a reporter asked if he would consider using atomic power for Japanese submarines.

Responding to the same question on Oct 31, Mr Koizumi said Japan should discuss ways to strengthen its defence capabilities “without excluding any options, including (the use of) nuclear power (for submarines) as I said at my inaugural press conference.”

“South Korea is an important neighbour and partner we should cooperate with when dealing with various issues facing the international community,” Mr Koizumi said.

He stressed the importance of Japan-South Korea security cooperation and trilateral cooperation involving the United States, citing

North Korea’s recent test-firing of missiles

.

Opponents of nuclear propulsion argue that developing nuclear-powered submarines would contradict Japan’s constitutional limits of self-defence. KYODO NEWS