Japan, US renew nuke pact amid Japan plutonium stock concern

FILE – This Nov. 8, 2012, file photo shows a floor crane, foreground, and storage pits at the vitrified high-level radioactive waste storage center, a part of the Rokkasho spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant facilities, run by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. in Rokasho village in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. Japan’s nuclear policy-setting body adopted an annual paper, Thursday, July 5, 2018, calling for stricter management on its fuel recycling program to reduce plutonium stockpile in response to escalating pressure from Washington as the U.S. tries to push forward North Korean pledge toward denuclearization. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

TOKYO — Japan and the U.S. have extended their nuclear pact as Tokyo pledged to work to reduce its plutonium stockpile to address Washington’s concern.

The 30-year pact agreed upon in 1988 allowed Japan to extract plutonium and enrich uranium for peaceful uses even though the same technology can make atomic bombs. Without either side requesting a review, the pact was extended Tuesday but now can be terminated by either side giving six months’ notice.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Japan must reduce the stockpile to keep the pact in place stably.

Japan has 47 tons of plutonium — enough to make 6,000 atomic bombs. Despite security concerns and Washington’s pressure, the amount isn’t decreasing due to slow restarts of reactors that can burn plutonium amid setbacks from the 2011 Fukushima disaster.  /muf