Defense Minister Koizumi: ”South Korea has them too”... ”Discussion on introducing nuclear submarines is inevitable”

On the 12th, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi again commented on South Korea's plan to introduce nuclear submarines, emphasizing that "it is natural for Japan to also discuss possessing nuclear submarines."
At the House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting that day, Defense Minister Koizumi responded to a question from a Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker about the introduction of nuclear submarines by saying, "We will not introduce nuclear submarines to South Korea, which does not currently possess them.
"Australia will have them, and the United States and China already have them," he said. "In this environment, in order for us to improve our deterrence and response capabilities, we need new (submarines)."
"I think it's only natural to discuss a wide range of issues, possibilities, advantages and disadvantages, such as whether solid-state batteries, fuel cells, or nuclear power are needed as new power sources," he replied.
Also, on the 6th, Defense Minister Koizumi appeared on a television program and said, "US President Donald Trump has approved the construction of a nuclear submarine in South Korea," and "All neighboring countries have nuclear submarines."
Defense Minister Koizumi has repeatedly mentioned the need to consider introducing nuclear submarines up until this day. The Japanese Cabinet appears to be leaning towards reconsidering the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles."
Kyodo News reported that "at a regular press conference on the same day, a Japanese government spokesperson did not deny the possibility of reconsidering the three non-nuclear principles."