Japanese FM orders investigation into Japan-U.S. secret nuclear pact

TOKYO, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Japan's newly-appointed Minister Katsuya Okada said early Thursday that he has ordered thorough investigation into the alleged secret pacts between Japan and the United States.

Okada issued the order immediately after Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama formally launched his cabinet late Wednesday.

At a press conference, Okada said that there is a "high probability that the secret pacts exist," but no clear evidence is available yet.

And Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka will follow the order and launch the investigation around Sept. 25, he said.

A purported 1960 secret Japan-U.S. pact, under which Japan would allow stopovers in its territory by U.S. military aircraft or vessels carrying nuclear weapons, is among the secret accords.

During his trip to the United States next week, he will inform Washington of Japan's investigation move in talks with his U.S. counterpart, he said.