Defense ministry creates nuclear-powered submarine policy planning group

The defense ministry said it created a 21-person temporary planning group for nuclear-powered submarine policy, to operate until Aug. 14, 2029.

The group will coordinate acquisition, operations, resource allocation, testing and evaluation; manage cooperation with foreign countries and international organizations; and develop nuclear-safety policy, regulations and safeguards systems.

The ministry said the unit will provide a systematic response to policy issues involving nuclear-powered submarines. It will be led by a senior civil servant and include policy communications, international cooperation and defense nuclear-safety offices.

Five of its 21 positions will be filled by officials from the foreign affairs, trade and industry, climate-energy-environment, defense acquisition and nuclear-safety authorities.

Separately, the amendment creates an information-security policy office under the vice minister and adds 25 staff to make oversight of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Counterintelligence Command and Defense Security Support Command more efficient. Its information-planning office will set policy and supervise the intelligence agency, while the security-intelligence office will oversee counterintelligence policy and the counterintelligence command. The security and cryptography office will coordinate security policy and audits and supervise the security support command.

The rules also add a sixth-grade official to address rising audit demand. The ministry's staffing total rises to 713 from 687.