DAS HAYWARD'S MEETING WITH TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT ON

UNCLAS TOKYO 003444 GLOBAL INITIATIVE PARTNER NATIONS COLLECTIVE SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/J, ISN/WMDT DOE FOR NA-4 SAOKI, JGLASSER, NA-40 JKROL, VMCCLELLAND, NA-20 MFINK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PTER PREL KGIC MNUC JA SUBJECT: DAS HAYWARD'S MEETING WITH TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT ON COUNTERTERRORISM EXERCISE SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY REF: STATE 123059 ¶1. (U) This message includes an action request. Please see paragraph 7. ¶2. (SBU) Summary. Officials of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) briefed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Negotiations Mary Alice Hayward December 11 on a dirty bomb/counter terrorism response exercise that Tokyo conducted in November. The TMG officials presented an overview of the exercise, the scenarios, and the response methods and equipment that were used. In response, DAS Hayward described U.S. efforts through the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism to encourage countries to hold realistic training exercises and share their experiences with other countries. She noted the Tokyo exercise appeared to be a potential model for other countries and expressed interest in inviting the TMG to give a presentation on its exercise to the GI members next year. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) Following the conclusion of the Non-Proliferation Directors Group meeting on December 11, DAS Hayward and delegation, accompanied by the Energy Attache and Econoff, met with officials of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to learn more about a large emergency response exercise Tokyo ran November 7. The large-scale exercise was based on scenario that included an attack by a terrorist group using a radiological dispersal device (dirty bomb). Although the meeting was arranged on short notice, the TMG was well prepared and gave a detailed presentation. TMG Director General for Crisis Management Koutarou Shimada led the Japanese side, which also included representatives of several offices in the Bureau of General Affairs, the Security Bureau and the Tokyo Fire Department. ¶4. (SBU) During the meeting, which was held in the emergency operations center at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government headquarters, TMG talked about its organization on counterterrorism matters and described the November 7 exercise, the scenarios, and the various organizations that were involved. The TMG officials described the exercise as the first in Japan that used a RDD/dirty bomb scenario. They characterized it as a "field training exercise," following a tabletop "command post exercise" that TMG ran in November 2007. The officials noted 11 organizations participated in this year's exercise, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, the Fire Department, elements of the Japan Self Defense Forces, the Japanese Coast Guard, and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The exercise was conducted primarily at the Tokyo Big Site in Koto Ward, a large convention facility intended to simulate an Olympic venue. (Note: Tokyo is a candidate for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. End note.) ¶5. (SBU) The exercise consisted of two distinct phases. In the first, JSDF Special Forces and Tokyo police subdued the armed terrorist group. The second phase simulated the explosion of an RDD containing Cesium-137 and the response by police and military units, medical teams, and radiation experts to rescue, decontaminate and treat victims, and to monitor radiation levels. In all, some 1,000 people participated in the drill, which lasted one hour. ¶6. (SBU) DAS Hayward commented on the impressive organization and scale of the November 7 exercise. She noted the U.S. and Japan have had long-standing discussions on nuclear security matters, including a meeting in 2007 on nuclear emergency response. In addition to our bilateral contacts, she noted that the U.S. and Japan work together in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, where emergency response is a key area of activity. Noting the Tokyo exercise is a model for how local authorities can deploy response capabilities against terrorist threats, she suggested the TMG make a similar presentation on its experience at a GI meeting in spring ¶2009. She noted the U.S. would follow up with additional information for the Japanese Government, after which a formal invitation might be extended to the TMG through diplomatic channels. ¶7. (SBU) Action Request: Following the meeting, TMG contacted the Embassy to request background information on the Global Initiative. While post has some information on recent exercises, Post would be grateful for more-comprehensive background information on the Initiative and recent exercises and conferences conducted under its auspices. Post would also welcome any comments regarding a GI meeting that would serve as an appropriate venue for a TMG presentation. ¶8. (U) This message has been cleared by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Negotiations. ZUMWALT