18 July
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Yukiya Amano, is thought to be considering resigning from his post before its term expires.
Amano assumed the post of director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2009 as the first Japanese to become chief of the organization. He is now serving a third term, which is set to end in 2021.
Diplomatic sources say there is speculation Amano will step down because he has had to return to Japan a number of times since last year due to poor health. He did not attend a special board meeting on Iran's nuclear development earlier this month.
Reuters news agency reports that Amano plans to step down in March next year for health reasons, and that the IAEA is expected to issue an official statement on the matter as early as next week.
Amano has dealt with the issues of nuclear development by Iran and North Korea and worked to enhance the safety of nuclear plants, following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident.
NHK
