A maritime drill on preventing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from proliferating started Saturday in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, with Japan, the United States and some other countries attending, Kyodo News said.

 

The PSI was first launched with eleven countries in May 2003. Japan hosted a PSI drill in 2004.

 

According to the schedule, the vessels are to conduct a drill chasing mock target boats and having inspectors board them in the Sea of Sagami, near Izu Oshima Island on Saturday.

 

On Sunday, the six countries will each demonstrate a search for mock "suspicious" materials hidden on a vessel. On Monday, a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force unit is to launch an exercise to deal with a mock chemical leak from a container at a Yokohama port.

 

Some European and Middle Eastern countries have sent observers to the drill, the report said. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2007)