Tokyo: The Japanese government recently looked into the possibility of developing nuclear warhead, a news report said on Monday, citing an internal government document.
Yasuhisa Shiozaki, the government's top spokesman, however, denied the existence of such a document.
The Japanese daily Sankei reported that experts at government organisations concluded that it would be impossible for Japan to develop nuclear weapons within a year or two, and that it would take at least three to five years to make a prototype nuclear warhead.
The experts also estimated that Japan would need to spend $1.68 billion to $2.52 billion and mobilise several hundred engineers to produce a prototype nuclear warhead, according to Sankei.
The experts did not say whether Japan should develop nuclear weapons, according to the summary of the document titled "On the Possibility of Developing Nuclear Weapons Domestically," dated September 20 and carried by the paper.
"The government is not aware of such a document," Shiozaki told reporters at a regular press conference.
As the only country ever attacked by atomic weapons, Japan has for decades espoused a strict policy of not possessing, developing or allowing the introduction of nuclear bombs on its territory.
The non-nuclear stance, however, has come under increasing scrutiny since North Korea conducted its first nuclear test on October 9, which raised severe security concerns in Japan, and broader fears that a regional arms race could be triggered.
Just months prior to the North's nuclear test, it test-fired several ballistic missiles capable of hitting Japan.
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