Kathmandu. Russia has strongly protested that Japan has started internal discussions on acquiring nuclear weapons. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has warned that such a move by Japan will upset the security balance of Northeast Asia.

Speaking to the TASS news agency, Rudenko said, Moscow is aware of the ongoing discussions in Japan about possible changes in constitutional provisions related to non-nuclear principles. We clearly express interest in this matter and criticize it. He also said that Japan's militarization will worsen the situation in the region and will cause a strong response from countries that feel threatened.

Earlier this week, a senior official in Japan's Prime Minister's Office expressed the opinion that Japan should have nuclear weapons. It has created controversy at the international level as it is against Japan's long-standing constitutional non-nuclear principle and position. After the Second World War, Japan has been adopting a policy of not making, keeping and importing nuclear weapons.