Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said Monday that Japan was wary about participating as an observer in a meeting of countries that signed a U.N. treaty to ban nuclear weapons.
The United Nations announced Saturday that 50 countries have ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, triggering its entry into force on Jan 22. However, Japan is one of several nations, including the United States, that has not joined the treaty on the grounds that it is unrealistic to abolish nuclear weapons amid the imminent nuclear threat from North Korea and elsewhere.
Regarding the possibility of joining as an observer, Kato told reporters: "The nature and content of the meeting have not yet been clarified. We need to carefully assess the matter in light of Japan's position on the treaty."
The treaty stipulates that a meeting of the parties concerned must be held within a year of the treaty's entry into force. Komeito has called on the government to participate in the meeting as an observer.
On Tuesday, Kato reiterated the government's policy that Japan would not sign nor ratify the treaty.
"It is appropriate to move forward with nuclear disarmament while addressing security threats, and [signing the treaty] differs from this approach by Japan," Kato said.
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