ID :
14903
Tue, 08/05/2008 - 14:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/14903
The shortlink copeid
Foreign Ministry to improve information handling of radioactive leaks+
TOKYO, Aug 5 Kyodo - The Japanese Foreign Ministry promised Monday to improve its handling of information in cases of radioactive leaks from U.S. military vessels by swiftly relaying all cases to other ministries and the local authorities concerned, even if such leaks do not cause health hazards.
The ministry came under fire for failing to disclose information after the U.S. government notified it on Friday afternoon about trace amounts of radioactivity that leaked from a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine at a port in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, in March.
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told reporters he regards the incident ''seriously'' even though the amount of radiation leakage was small, and that he ordered the Foreign Ministry to ''take firm steps'' to deal properly with such incidents, including information disclosure.
Fukuda also said he wants the United States to investigate the cause of the leakage.
Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka told a news conference, ''We will be thorough in notifying all local authorities concerned (in future cases) even if the incident is trivial, and to make the information public.''The ministry said it did not disclose the incident because the level of leaked radiation was so ''minor that it would not have any impact on humans.'' Neither Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura nor the city of Sasebo was notified about the incident until Saturday morning.
Up to now, the Foreign Ministry has not reported accidents involving U.S. nuclear vessels to the institutions concerned if they have not caused health hazards.
The ministry came under fire for failing to disclose information after the U.S. government notified it on Friday afternoon about trace amounts of radioactivity that leaked from a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine at a port in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, in March.
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told reporters he regards the incident ''seriously'' even though the amount of radiation leakage was small, and that he ordered the Foreign Ministry to ''take firm steps'' to deal properly with such incidents, including information disclosure.
Fukuda also said he wants the United States to investigate the cause of the leakage.
Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka told a news conference, ''We will be thorough in notifying all local authorities concerned (in future cases) even if the incident is trivial, and to make the information public.''The ministry said it did not disclose the incident because the level of leaked radiation was so ''minor that it would not have any impact on humans.'' Neither Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura nor the city of Sasebo was notified about the incident until Saturday morning.
Up to now, the Foreign Ministry has not reported accidents involving U.S. nuclear vessels to the institutions concerned if they have not caused health hazards.
