CCTV9英语新闻：Japan sends 331 kg of plutonium to US

A British ship, loaded with weapons-grade plutonium, has left Japan for the United States. 331 kilograms of plutonium -- which is enough to make about 50 nuclear weapons -- was taken from a nuclear research centre in the Japanese east port town of Tokai Mura and is bound for the US Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The plutonium -- produced in Britain, the US and France -- had been used for research purposes in the 1970s. 

 

Two months journey to its final destination in South Carolina. Both governments have not disclosed the route but officials said safety precautions are being taken thoroughly. 

 

The agreement of returning the plutonium, which were sent to Japan during the cold war era, was made during the Abe – Obama summit in 2014. Experts say both governments wanted to complete the return ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC held on March 1 to April 1st. 

 

Japan will host the G7 summit in May and an upper house election is scheduled in July. President Obama is also looking to complete his term as the US heads for Presidential election. It is preferred timing for both government to complete the return, and appeal achievements before these date." 

 

That was CCTV correspondent reporting on Japan's return of weapons grade plutonium to the US.