Japan's nuclear dilemma?

In Jimmy Carter's words:

The United States is the major culprit in the erosion of the NTP. While claiming to be protecting the world from proliferation threats in Iraq, Libya, Iran and North Korea . . . they also have abandoned past pledges and now threaten first Ause of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states.

Robert McNamara, who used to run the American system, in March 2005 described US nuclear war planning as `illegal and immoral'Japan focus

Surely it is inconsistent to threat other countries to give up nuclear weapon while she has shown no sign of giving it up.

Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a Treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.

It is just that each nuclear-weapon state party has violated this article.

Yomiuri confusedly call Japanese situation as to nuclear weapon "dilemma"

What is Japan's nuclear dilemma？

Japan needs nuclear deterrence.
Japan maintains the abolition of nuclear weapon.

Yomiuri

It is not dilemma really. It is a project that has to be done step by step as NPT has intended.
It was hypocritical of Hiroshima to accuse of only the U.S, but it is not inconsistent to insist that all nuclear weapon state parties should give up the nuclear weapon step by step, mindful of the power balance.


It is far-fetched to accuse Japan in this regard: what should be accused is North Korea's violation of international law,

Theoretically being the victim of the gun does not mean she has no right to hold gun to protect herself. Likewise Japan being a nuclear victim country does not means she has no right to hold nuclear weapon. In fact, Japanese government does not exclude the possibility of holding it as a part of self-defence. I don't think it is a good idea that we should deny an option categorically.

But we should also keep in mind that what was cruel and barbaric of atomic bombing of Hiroshima was it killed innocent civilians unnecesarily and it is highly likely that the future use of nuclear weapon will bring about the serious effect and damages on the innocent civilians.
And the world as it is , I don't think Japan needs nuclear weapon now. (see 核武装関連(Japanese)

Like the US's, Japan's non-proliferation policy is contradictory – it turns a blind eye to US-favoured countries that ignore or break the rules, such as Israel and India, while taking a hard line on countries not favoured by the US, such as Iran and North Korea. It is also passive in the area of disarmament - specifically downplaying the obligations of the US and other superpowers; and because its own defence policy rests on nuclear weapons,(Japan focus

True it was hypocritical of Japan that she didn't point out hypciritical attitude of nuclear state such as China, Russia, the U.S.
But North Korean nuclear threat has created new kind of threat to the East Asia:the power balance was broken. We can not argue the North Korean threat on the same level .

For the related articles, see Shisaku
Japan observer