Recent scandals regarding Tokyo Electric Power Co. safety inspection procedures have added a new sense of urgency to a long-standing question: "Are nuclear power reactors throughout East Asia being operated safely?"

Equally important, especially in light of increased concerns about nuclear terrorism in the wake of 9/11, and continuing rumors of terrorist desires to acquire "dirty bombs," is the question of whether spent fuel rods and other forms of highly radioactive waste from East Asia's myriad of nuclear reactors are being stored in a safe and secure manner.

Today, China, South Korea, Russia and Taiwan also rely on nuclear power to partially satisfy their energy needs, although none is as reliant on this form of energy or have as many reactors (more than 50) as Japan. Others in the region, including Mongolia and Vietnam, are seriously contemplating building nuclear power stations, while others either have or are planning to build nuclear research reactors.