Japan's FM learnt of radioactive leak from US sub on TV

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

TOKYO (AFP) — Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura berated his department Saturday for failing to notify him of a radioactive leak from a US nuclear submarine, saying he learnt of the incident on television.

The communication glitch came the same day that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda installed a new cabinet to revive sagging public support for his government.

"This (Saturday) morning I was watching CNN, and even if I don't understand English that well I saw that something strange was going on," Komura, who retained the post in the new cabinet, told a news conference.

"I therefore contacted (his subordinates) myself," he said, adding that foreign ministry officials "should have shared the information faster" to enable him to make an announcement quickly....