International Nuclear Watch & Discussion

[Gerard]

Japan set narrow territorial waters along straits for U.S. nukes

Japanese territorial waters along the Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, Tsushima and Korea straits have been set at 3 nautical miles (5.6 kilometers) from shore, instead of the maximum allowable limit of 12 nautical miles (22 km).

U.S. vessels carrying nuclear weapons, including nuclear-powered subs with nuclear missiles, must have passed through the key straits during deterrence operations in the Sea of Japan to counter the nuclear threat from the former Soviet Union, China and North Korea, according to the former officials.

If territorial waters had been set at 12 nautical miles along the straits, there would have been no areas of open sea in some sections of the straits, forcing the vessels to cross Japanese waters, thus infringing on Japan's three nonnuclear principles of not possessing, producing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory, they said.

[Gerard]

Abolishing nuclear weapons a slow process, says Evans

[Gerard]

New U.S. Nuclear Detectors Show Same Weakness as Older Technology