Japan’s Defense Ministry Announces Panel to Prevent Recurrence of Information Leaks
Tokyo, February 18, 2025 – The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced the establishment of an expert panel to review and propose measures to prevent the recurrence of classified information leaks. The panel will be chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Koichi Kodama.
The move comes in response to a series of high-profile leaks of sensitive military information in recent years. In 2021, classified documents related to Japan’s defense capabilities were found on a public website. In a separate incident in 2023, a military official was arrested for allegedly leaking information to a foreign government.
The panel will be tasked with examining the root causes of these leaks and developing recommendations to strengthen the protection of classified information. It will review existing security protocols, identify vulnerabilities, and propose measures to mitigate future risks.
In addition to Judge Kodama, the panel will include experts from the legal, security, and intelligence fields. It is expected to meet regularly over the next several months and submit its findings to the Defense Ministry by the end of 2025.
“The recurrence of classified information leaks is a serious threat to our national security,” said Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada. “This panel will play a critical role in helping us identify and address the vulnerabilities that have allowed these leaks to occur.”
The establishment of the panel is part of a broader effort by the Japanese government to strengthen its cybersecurity and protect sensitive information. In 2023, the government passed a new law that criminalizes the unauthorized disclosure of classified information. The law also expands the authority of security agencies to investigate and prosecute leaks.
The Japanese government is facing increasing pressure to protect classified information in the face of growing threats from cyberattacks, espionage, and terrorism. The expert panel is expected to play a key role in strengthening Japan’s defenses against these threats.
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