TOKYO, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Defense Minister Tomomi Inada on Thursday suggested that it may be legally possible for Japanese troops to acquire the capability to conduct preemptive strikes against enemy bases.
Inada made the remarks in a House of Representatives Committee meeting on security with regards to a question on how Japanese troops deal with launches of ballistic missiles against it from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Inada said that in line with Japanese and international law, Japan would "consider various measures", although added that the government was not currently considering giving its forces the capability of making such preemptive strikes.
Inada did say, however, that giving Japanese troops the capability and conducting such preemptive strikes is "legally possible."
Under Article 9 of the Constitution, Japan is not allowed to maintain any means of land, sea, or air war potential or use war as a means of settling international disputes. Japan's Constitution also decrees that the Japanese people forever renounce war.
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