Japan to become a nuclear power?

Is Japan contemplating producing nuclear weapons?

"If North Korea did a nuclear test, South Korea and Japan could start debating seriously whether to arm themselves with nuclear weapons," Osaka University of Economics and Law professor Yasuhiko Yoshida.

"It's possible that a North Korean nuclear test could trigger a chain reaction. If Japan and South Korea decided to become nuclear powers, Taiwan could also want to take a similar path," added Yoshida, a former official at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

It's hard to contemplate a nuclear Japan, but given the alternative of China and now North Korea being the only nuclear powers in the area, a counter is needed. Given South Korea's recent actions and attitudes, Japan seems to be the better choice for that position.