Japanese official allegedly did not rule out building nuclear weapons storage site in Okinawa

WASHINGTON – Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba did not rule out the possibility of a nuclear weapons storage site being built in Okinawa Prefecture in comments he allegedly made in 2009 when he was a minister at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, a U.S. researcher said Monday.

Gregory Kulacki, China project manager at the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, cited a document he obtained dated Feb. 27, 2009, that summarized Akiba’s remarks at a U.S. congressional commission that year.

In response to a question on how Japan might view the construction of a nuclear weapons storage site in Okinawa or Guam, Akiba “stated that he found such a proposal persuasive,” according to the document.

In Tokyo, however, Foreign Minister Taro Kono denied that Akiba had made such a remark.

“The government has firmly maintained the three nonnuclear principles” of not possessing, not producing and not allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan, Kono said.

LATEST NATIONAL STORIES

Ex-Aum cultist Makoto Hirata has 'no special feelings' about Asahara's execution

Makoto Hirata, a former Aum Shinrikyo executive serving time in Shizuoka, says he has "no special feelings" about the execution last month of Shoko Asahara, the former head of the now-defunct do...

ALPS system at Fukushima No. 1 plant failing to remove more than tritium from toxic cooling water

The tritium-tainted water piling up at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has been found to contain other radioactive substances, defying the defunct plant's special treatment syst...

Poaching woes prompt plan for sea cucumber certificates

With the poaching of Japanese sea cucumbers showing no sign of abating amid strong sales of the delicacy in China, the government is considering establishing a system to ensure that proof of aut...