TOKYO, OCT 18, SPA -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is seeking to tamp down any desire on the part of South Korea or Japan to engage in a nuclear arms race with North Korea. The United States is concerned that Japan and South Korea may want to develop their own nuclear weapons programs to counter the threat from North Korea. Part of Rice's assignment on this week's hastily arranged trip to China, Russia, Japan and South Korea is to lessen that temptation by reaffirming the U.S. intention to defend the two nations most at risk, the Associated Press reported. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ruled out developing nuclear weapons, but a ruling party policy director raised that possibility soon after the North's Oct. 9 test. Shortly before Rice arrived Wednesday for meetings with Foreign Minister Taro Aso and other Japanese officials, Aso said Japan should openly discuss whether it wants to possess nuclear weapons. He told a parliamentary committee the government has no plans to stray from its post-World War II policy of not allowing nuclear bombs on Japanese soil, "But I think it is important to discuss the issue." Speaking to reporters Tuesday en route to Japan, Rice said North Korea's recent underground nuclear test "does carry with it the potential for instability in the relationships that now exist in the region." "That's why it's extremely important to go out and to affirm, and affirm strongly, U.S. defense commitments to Japan and to South Korea," Rice said. The U.S. has a long-standing pledge to use its own nuclear arsenal to defend its friends.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/396856