Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Thursday Japan would not sign a U.N. treaty banning nuclear weapons that will take effect in January, but would pursue more realistic approaches to reduce nuclear weapons.
"We have no intention of signing it," Suga said at a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Councillors, in response to questioning from Shinkun Haku of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
"It is appropriate to steadily and pragmatically pursue a path toward nuclear disarmament," he added, indicating his intention to continue working as a bridge between nuclear powers and non-nuclear nations.
With regard to participating as an observer at a meeting of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Suga said, "We need to assess [the appropriateness] prudently."
Asked about the possibility of a summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if he visits Japan next summer for the Tokyo Games, Suga said, "I will refrain from answering hypothetical questions, but I think it would be a good opportunity."
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