A senior Japanese ruling party lawmaker and former finance minister says the nation should consider developing a nuclear weapons program.

Shoichi Nakagawa suggested the necessity of a nuclear weapons program for the country to defend itself from possible attacks from North Korea.

"It is common sense worldwide that in a purely military sense it is nuclear that can counteract nuclear," Mr Nakagawa was quoted Monday by the Kyodo news agency as saying in a speech in his constituency in northern Japan.

Nakagawa made the comments after North Korea announced plans to restart its nuclear program in protest at a UN resolution condemning its satellite rocket launch earlier this month.

He said North Korea is now closer to a system whereby it can use nuclear missiles without prior notice. "We have to discuss countermeasures," Nakagawa added.

The Japanese government reacted quickly on Monday to Nakagawa's comments, stressing its position against both the possession and production of atomic weapons.

"Japan also has the obligation of observing the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, under which it would not produce nor obtain nuclear weapons," said Takeo Kawamura, chief cabinet secretary.

Statements by Japanese politicians suggesting the need for a nuclear deterrent are not new. Although the country has had a no-nuke position since World War II, there have always been militarists trying to float the idea around.

Shinzo Abe, a former prime minister, and chief cabinet secretary, Yasuo Fukuda, are among politicians who believe that the Japanese Constitution does not rule out the possession of nuclear weapons for tactical defense purposes.

MVZ/JG/AA