Rice pledges 'full range' defense of Japan against North Korea

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday the United States is ready to use the "full range" of its military might to defend Japan in light of North Korea's nuclear weapons test, and her Japanese counterpart drew a firm line against developing a Japanese bomb.\nThe United States is concerned that Japan, South Korea or perhaps Taiwan may want to develop their own nuclear weapons programs to counter the threat from North Korea. Such moves would anger China, which already has nuclear weapons, and raise tensions in the region.\nPart of Rice's assignment on this week's hastily arranged trip to China, Russia, Japan and South Korea is to lessen the temptation to develop separate national nuclear programs by reaffirming the U.S. intention to defend the nations most at risk.\nIn Japan, Rice said she reaffirmed President George W. Bush's pledge, made the day of the North's test last week, "that the United States has the will and the capability to meet the full range -- and I underscore the full range -- of its deterrent and security commitments to Japan," Rice said following discussions with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso.\nRice's words were a reminder to U.S. allies that the United States does not want to see a new nuclear arms race in Asia, but they will likely also be taken as a warning to North Korea that it could face the U.S. nuclear arsenal if it used a nuclear weapon on a neighbor.\nThe United States has repeatedly said it does not intend to attack North Korea or topple its communist regime.\nShortly before Rice arrived, Aso said Japan should openly discuss whether it wants to possess nuclear weapons. He told a parliamentary committee that the government has no plans to stray from its post-World War II policy of not allowing nuclear bombs on Japanese soil, "But I think it is important to discuss the issue."\nEven discussing the issue is extremely sensitive in Japan, with its troubled military history and experience as the only nation where nuclear weapons were used in wartime.\nWith Rice at his side, Aso did not repeat the need for a discussion.\n"The government is absolutely not considering a need to be armed by nuclear weapons," Aso said. "We do not need to acquire nuclear arms with an assurance by Secretary of State Rice that the bilateral alliance would work without fault."\nLater Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe insisted his government would not even discuss building a nuclear bomb.\n"That debate is finished," Abe testily told reporters.\nIt was at least the third time since North Korea's test that Abe -- a hawk on defense issues who came to office last month promising a more assertive Japan -- has had to reassure jittery neighbors and an anxious United States that Tokyo would not abandon its postwar ban on nuclear weapons.\nSpeaking to reporters Tuesday en route to Japan, Rice said North Korea's recent underground nuclear test "does carry with it the potential for instability in the relationships that now exist in the region."\n"That's why it's extremely important to go out and to affirm, and affirm strongly, U.S. defense commitments to Japan and to South Korea," Rice said.