JAPAN: NOT CONSIDERING DOMESTIC INITIATIVES TIED

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000086 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/J, ISN/NESS NSC FOR JOYCE CONNERY DOE NA-4 FOR STEVE AOKI, JOE GLASER; NA-25 FOR TRACY MUSTIN; NA-24 FOR MELISSA KRUPA, JANETTE HILL E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2025 TAGS: KNNP PGOV ENRG PARM JA SUBJECT: JAPAN: NOT CONSIDERING DOMESTIC INITIATIVES TIED TO NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT Classified By: EMIN MARC M. WALL FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) As part of its preparations for the April Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Washington, the GOJ is considering a package of activities related to international cooperation on nuclear security, but is not considering any domestic security initiatives, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) International Nuclear Energy Division Deputy Director Zentaro Naganuma. Naganuma, who reports to GOJ Summit Sherpa Ambassador Toshio Sano, told econoff January 13 that MOFA generally does not have a role in domestic nuclear security and has not initiated or participated in any discussions of increased domestic security measures in the context of the Summit. ¶2. (C) However, Naganuma emphasized that Japan adheres to INFCIRC/225 Revision 4, "The Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities", and is participating in the discussion of the upcoming Revison 5. He explained that Japan's Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) has established a body to study the new Revision, and thus the AEC could recommend changes in domestic nuclear security policy in that context. (Note: Japan has also ratified the "Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material" (INFCIRC/274),but not the 2005 Amendment to the Convention. According to Naganuma, the GOJ still needs to scrutinize Japanese law to determine if any changes need to be made before ratifying the Amendment, and has been in no hurry to do so because of a perception that the Amendment would not enter into force any time soon. He opined the U.S. was in a similar postion. End note.) ¶3. (C) It may be that the completion of Revision 5 will give the GOJ cause to announce measures to increase nuclear security, but MOFA at least does not currently appear to be focusing on those measures in the context of the Nuclear Security Summit. Post will engage further with other GOJ agencies responsible for nuclear energy, such as the Nuclear Safety Commission and the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, to gauge the level of awareness/support for domestic inititatives on nuclear security. The January 21-22 visit of DOE/NNSA Deputy Under Secretary for Counterterrorism Steven Aoki will also provide opportunities to assess the GOJ position both on domestic nuclear security practices and preparations for the Summit. ZUMWALT