9 February

The new head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to visit Japan later this month.

Sources say an itinerary is being arranged for Secretary-General Rafael Grossi's visit to Japan that will start on February 24. This is going to be his first visit to the country since taking office in December, following the death of his predecessor, Yukiya Amano. During a planned tour of Japan, Grossi is expected to talk with senior Japanese officials on nuclear development in North Korea and Iran.

Talks between Pyongyang and Washington on the issue have hit an impasse. Iran is defiantly increasing nuclear development activities. Arrangements are also being made for Grossi to visit the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. If the plan materializes, he would probably ask what the Japanese government is going to do with the increasing amount of tritium-tainted water at the site. Grossi once said his visit as a youth to the atomic-bombed Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki prompted him to pursue nuclear disarmament.

He has also expressed high expectations for Japan, which has made financial and technological contributions as an IAEA member. Observers say Grossi wants to make Japan one of his first destinations since taking office as a way of showing his respect for Japan.—NHK