SEA SHIPMENT OF JAPANESE PLUTONIUM UNDER INTERNATIONAL-LAW

The Japanese government's shipment of plutonium from France to Japan r aises a number of significant questions under international law. The f irst shipment, which began in November 1992 on the Akatsuki Maru, viol ated international law in several respects. This article analyzes the international law that governs these shipments, focusing on the rules that govern navigation on the high seas and exclusive economic zones, territorial seas, and international straits, and also addresses the qu estion of liability for damage.