TOKYO, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese foreign ministry has found documents proving the existence of a secret Japan-U.S. pact that allows U.S. military vessels or aircraft carrying nuclear weapons to enter Japanese territory, local media reported Sunday, citing ministry sources.
A team of about 15 people, led by Mitsuru Kitano, a secretariat councilor in the ministry, found the documents during an investigation of ministry files, according to the sources. And the team informed Okada of its discovery on Friday.
"The probe is now in the final stage, and we will announce the outcome in January," Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada was quoted by Kyodo News as saying on Saturday.
On Sept. 17, Okada ordered thorough investigation into the alleged secret pacts one day after Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama formally launched his DPJ-led cabinet.
As the secret nuclear pact serves as a breach of Japan's three non-nuclear principles of possessing, producing or permitting the bringing-in of nuclear weapons on its soil, Former LDP-led government had always denied its existence, arguing that as they had never faced demands for prior consultations, they had to conclude that nuclear weapons had not been brought to Japan.
TOKYO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada visited U.S. Kadena Air Base on Monday, telling local government officials that he sees the base as a possible site for the relocating of a nearby U.S. Marine Corps' air station.
Okada's two-day trip to Japan's southernmost prefecture, his first since becoming minister, was made with the intention of finding an expeditious solution on the airbase relocation issue, a subject that is increasingly weighing on U.S.-Japan security ties.
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Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a speech on U.S. policy toward Asia at Suntory Hall in Tokyo,Nov. 14, 2009. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
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TOKYO, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama concluded on Saturday his two-day visit to Japan with a keynote speech at Tokyo's Suntory Hall, during which he addressed issues of security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the need to strengthen old alliances and build new partnerships with the nations of this region.Full story
