Japan Flirts With Nukes

"Japan is capable of producing nuclear weapons, but we are not saying we have plans to possess nuclear weapons."

That's what Japanese foreign minister, Taro Aso, told a parliamentary committee today. This message comes at a time when the Japanese government is looking at rewriting the country's constitution that prevents it from creating an offensive military capability.

Aso called for a renewed debate on Japan's anti-nuclear stance but added that the constitution does not prohibit Japan from acquiring nuclear weapons for defensive purposes.

"Possession of minimum level of arms for defence is not prohibited under Article 9 of the constitution," he said. "Even nuclear weapons, if there are any that fall within that limit, they are not prohibited."