The Foreign Ministry's spokesman caused confusion Wednesday by saying the ministry holds the view that no ''secret pact'' was reached by Japan and the United States on the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan in the 1960s, a day after a ministry panel acknowledged the existence of the pact.

To access full stories on Kyodo News English website, it is necessary to subscribe. Please contact Kyodo's International Department in Tokyo via e-mail at kokusai@kyodonews.jp or call 03-6252-8301. If you are outside Japan, please contact Kyodo News International in New York at kni@kyodonews.com or call +1-212-508-5440. Currently we offer subscriptions to only corporate clients such as newspapers, magazines, trade publications, research institutes, government and international organizations.