NTI - Global Security Newswire, 29 Jan 2010.

Japan intends to continue abiding by a self-imposed ban on manufacturing, possessing or permitting the presence of nuclear weapons on its territory, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said.

"We will continue to make sure that (government agencies) are kept informed about (the principles), including not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons," Kyodo News quoted Hatoyama as saying. "In other words, we will observe them," he said.

Japan's previous ruling party, which had held power for decades, appeared to violate the non-nuclear principles when it signed an agreement in 1960 permitting secret stopovers by nuclear-armed U.S. ships and aircraft. A formal inquiry by the nation's current administration is expected to confirm the existence of the secret pact.

The report, initially due this month, is now expected to be finalized in February, Kyodo reported.

"I want the (panel of) experts to avoid hurried thinking and have them properly consider the issue, including the historical background, and make a report that can endure future studies," Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters Tuesday.

Okada said last week that he had sent a letter advocating a "no first use" policy for nuclear weapons to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Kyodo reported.

"Two realistic steps" in the direction of establishing such a policy would be to declare that nuclear weapons could only be used to prevent a nuclear strike by another state and that such weapons would never be used against nations that do not possess atomic armaments, according to Okada.

"While it may not be possible to realize these immediately, I would like to have, between the two governments, further discussion on the possibility of adopting such measures in present or future policy," Okada stated in his letter, sent last month to Washington.

Okada said he had received a response, but provided no details of its content.

"It was not a reply that intends to say that there is a problem," he said.

Okada said in the letter that the United States, for now, must maintain a credible nuclear deterrent, but that Washington and Tokyo should collaborate on promoting U.S. President Barack Obama's hope for global nuclear disarmament, Jiji Press reported.

The United States covers Japan with its "nuclear umbrella" to prevent aggression by North Korea.

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