Japan and the United States have extended their nuclear pact, with Tokyo pledging to work to reduce its plutonium reserves to decrease Washington's concerns.

The agreement reached in 1988 enabled Japan to extract plutonium and enriched uranium for peaceful purposes, although the same technology is used to make an atomic bomb. The pact was extended on Tuesday, but now both sides have the right to terminate it by announcing its termination six months earlier.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Japan must reduce its plutonium reserves to maintain stability of the agreement. Japan has 74 tons of plutonium which is enough to make 6,000 atomic bombs.

In spite of the security issues and Washington’s pressure, the reserve quantity was not reduced due to the restart of plutonium reactors damaged in the 2011 disaster that struck Fukushima.