Japanese gov't finds documents proving existence of secret nuke pact

The Japanese foreign ministry has found documents proving the existence of a secret Japan-U.S. pact that allows U.S. military vessels or aircraft carrying nuclear weapons to enter Japanese territory, local media reported Sunday, citing ministry sources.

A team of about 15 people, led by Mitsuru Kitano, a secretariat councilor in the ministry, found the documents during an investigation of ministry files, according to the sources. And the team informed Okada of its discovery on Friday.

"The probe is now in the final stage, and we will announce the outcome in January," Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada was quoted by Kyodo News as saying on Saturday.

On Sept. 17, Okada ordered thorough investigation into the alleged secret pacts one day after Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama formally launched his DPJ-led cabinet.

As the secret nuclear pact serves as a breach of Japan's three non-nuclear principles of possessing, producing or permitting the bringing-in of nuclear weapons on its soil, Former LDP-led government had always denied its existence, arguing that as they had never faced demands for prior consultations, they had to conclude that nuclear weapons had not been brought to Japan.