Jun 28 07:09 AM US/Eastern
NAHA, Japan, June 28 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The Japanese Foreign Ministry has told the Okinawa prefectural government that no ships carrying nuclear weapons have made port calls at U.S. naval facilities at White Beach in the prefecture, a public document showed Monday.
In a document responding to questions submitted by the local government, the ministry said that while it is "difficult to say for certain," it has determined that no U.S. ships carrying nuclear weapons had made port calls in Japan "as of this moment, based on U.S. nuclear policy."
Avoiding a particular reference to what the country might do if Washington made a request to Tokyo for prior consultation on the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan in times of contingency, the ministry said, "There is no change in the policy of the Cabinet of (Prime Minister Naoto) Kan to hold fast to the three non-nuclear principles."
Japan proclaims the principles of not possessing, producing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory. The Japan-U.S. security treaty requires Washington to consult with Tokyo in advance on the introduction of nuclear weapons.
In a report in March, a ministry panel comprised of experts concluded that there was a tacit agreement, or "a secret pact in a broad sense," between the two countries under which Japan effectively allowed U.S. nuclear-armed ships to visit Japanese ports without prior consultation in violation of the non-nuclear principles.
The United States has stated since 1991, after the end of the Cold War, that it has withdrawn all tactical nuclear weapons from its ships.
In the same report, the ministry panel also found that an agreement allegedly allowing Washington to bring nuclear weapons into Okinawa in times of contingency does not fit the definition of a secret pact, saying it is unlikely to go far beyond the content of the 1969 Japan- U.S. statement on the reversion of Okinawa.
The local government submitted its questions on June 8 and the reply was dated last Friday.
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