They were attacked by a nation that was going to attack them anyways. The history of pre-war / WW2 Japan made confrontation inevitable. This isn’t “a dilemma”. It’s sacrificing human lives of a defending country because of simple inaction. The war escalated when Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022. Russia started the war in 2014 by seizing sovereign territory. They weren’t holding back. They aren’t avoiding balistic missiles. They get their shit from their allies.

So if you want a dilemma, here it is - do we give up every country that doesn’t have nukes to nuclear powers? Because that’s what is being advocated for by tying their hands.