Japan PM: country needs nuclear regulatory review

Japan PM: country needs nuclear regulatory review

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, said on Wednesday that Japan needs to rethink the way that nuclear power is regulated in the country, but dodged the question about how big is the role of nuclear power in the country's future .

Japan is trying to contain a crisis in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex after a magnitude 9 earthquake followed by tsunami on 11 March that affected the plant's cooling system, leading to leakage of radiation.

"We need to fully consider what needs to be done to improve the safety of nuclear power, " Kan told a news conference.

Kan, who has been critical of the way he managed the nuclear crisis, also said it will allow the reopening of nuclear plants that were closed for inspection so that they meet the standards of safety and emergency.