Two British ships arrive in Japan, rumored to bring plutonium to U.S.
There is reason to believe about the rising tension in the Pacific, and while most would think that the arrival of two British ships in Japan to transport plutonium to the U.S. is a scary thought that supports that notion, the shipment is actually part of a bilateral agreement.
The Associated Press said that the said ships docked at a coastal village called Tokai, which also happens to be the same area where the Japan Atomic and Energy Agency is headquartered. The British ships intend to load and transport plutonium, which for those who don't know, is one of the main components of making the atomic bomb.
And while Japanese authorities aren't saying anything about the arrival of the ships and the subsequent loading of plutonium casks, The AP got hold of information that the ships are the Pacific Heron and the Pacific Egret, both of which are under the Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd. The job is to take about 700 pounds of the material to South Carolina, particularly to the Savannah River Site. Accordingly, the plutonium actually came from the U.S. and was sent to the Japanese for research.
Japan is no stranger to issues involving the development and use of plutonium, with various international groups voicing out their fears of developing weapons of mass destruction. However, the country claims that the material is only being produced and saved so as to develop and utilize it for power generation. Even the United States previously expressed its concern over the production of plutonium for energy production. Aside from Japan, China also has an advanced program of the same nature, while South Korea is trying to acquire the same.
The move to transport Japan's plutonium to the U.S. is seen as a positive move towards the hope of increasing non-proliferation efforts with respect to nuclear dependency and buildup.
