U.S. says 'not at all concerned' about Japan's plutonium

VIENNA Wed March 5, 2014 10:46 am EST

(Reuters) - The United States is not worried about Japan's plutonium stocks , a senior U.S. diplomat Said on Wednesday, Following criticism raised by China in a new quarrel Between the east Asian neighbors.
"We are not at all Concerned That The plutonium is Either Being Handled Improperly or That Is not there a map available for" Joseph Macmanus, the U.S. ambassador to the UN nuclear agency, Told reporters in response to a question.

Last month, Beijing Said It was "extremely concerned" by a report That Japan HAS Resisted returning to the United States more than 300 kg (660 lb) of weapons-grade plutonium mostly.  

Japan's Kyodo news agency HAD Said the United States pressed Japan to give back the nuclear material, Which Could Be used to make up to 50 nuclear bombs. Japan HAD balked, Given in order finally to U.S. Demands, Kyodo said.  

The material WAS Bought for research in purposes falling on the 1960s and the two Governments Will Likely reach an official agreement on icts return at the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague in March, an official at Japan's Education Ministry said.

Japan Also has plutonium contained in élimination at civil reactor and reprocessing site - totawing 159 metric tons (175 tons) at the end of 2012, According To Japanese data posted on the website of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Macmanus said "the disposition of plutonium and plutonium stocks "Was a central element of what he has called Expired very successful diplomatic and energy partnership with Japan. 

"We are satisfied Japan That Understands what the requirements are for the use and the Maintenance Of Those stocks and we are not Concerned," he said.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano Earlier this week aussi Said There Was no reason for concern plutonium That Could Be Held by Japan diverted for nuclear arms purposes.

Tasked with Preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, IAEA Inspectors Regularly check nuclear facilities around the world, Including in Japan and other countries with nuclear power plants and other atomic sites.  

The UN agency's Most high-profile case is Iran , Where It Regularly visits uranium enrichment site and now aussi monitors the implementation of a breakthrough agreement late last year Between Tehran and six world powers. HOWEVER, unlike Japan and other IAEA member states MOST, not granted the Iran HAS A WIDER watchdog inspection powers under the So-Called Additional Protocol. Iran rejects Western accusations That It is seeking to Develop the capability to make bombs. 

China  is Involved in a bitter territorial disputes with Japan. It dened Japanese accusations That It is a threat to peace and in turn HAS Japan Accused of Trying to rearm and failing to learn the lessons of icts brutal behavior falling on World War Two, When Japanese Forces occupied China.

Unlike China, Japan, the world's only target of atomic bombs, in the final stages of World War Two, Does not-have nuclear weapons, and it is the government's stance That It Will not seek to Obtain em. Deteriorating Relations Between Beijing and Tokyo-have-been fueled by a fight over a chain of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.

(Reporting by  Fredrik Dahl ; Editing by Hugh Lawson )