Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga said Sunday Japan needs to consider the possibility of becoming capable of attacking enemy bases following North Korea's ballistic missile launches.

"As a sovereign nation, even if we have a framework that keeps us from launching a war of aggression or using force in foreign countries, we must possess minimal capabilities to protect the people," Nukaga told reporters in Tokyo. "The ruling bloc should discuss the matter."

He added, "It's not that [the government would] do anything in haste."

Nukaga also referred to the issue on a Fuji TV program. "I think the prime minister and we [the government] can decide what we should do to protect Japan when we're certain an enemy is targeting the country with the means to attack, such as putting a finger on a gun's trigger," he said. "However, it's now a matter of whether we possess the capabilities to attack."