TOKYO: Japan’s Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio in a television program Sunday sounded cautious about the idea of Japan possessing a nuclear-powered submarine.

“We need to strengthen our country’s defense capabilities under the severe security environment,” Kishida, also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said. But he indicated that it is not appropriate for the country to suddenly aim for a nuclear submarine.

“Huge costs will be required for developing a nuclear submarine,” he said, adding: “Priority is important for protecting people’s lives and livelihoods. We have things to do before (considering possessing a nuclear submarine).”

The TV program, also joined by heads of eight other Japanese political parties, was held ahead of the July 10 election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan’s parliament.

In the program, the Democratic Party for the People and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), both opposition parties, argued for Japan possessing a nuclear submarine.

Komeito, the coalition partner of the LDP, showed a cautious view, while the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party, an opposition party, raised objections to the idea.

The official campaign period for the triennial Upper House poll is set to kick off Wednesday.

JIJI Press