North Korea is pressed to renounce its nuclear arms at NPT preparatory committee
May 14, 2012
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer, dispatched from Vienna, Austria
On May 8, in Vienna, Austria, site of the First Preparatory Committee for the 2015 NPT Review Conference, Japan, the United States, and South Korea raised the subject of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program for discussion. Amid growing concern that North Korea may pursue a third nuclear test, the three nations strongly criticized North Korea’s nuclear intentions, pressing it to renounce its entire nuclear arsenal.
Ambassador Toshiro Ozawa, permanent mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, stressed that North Korea’s nuclear program is “a grave challenge to the NPT regime.” Mr. Ozawa went on to say that the launch of a ballistic missile in April, which the nation claimed was a satellite, constituted “a serious provocation, which threatens the peace and stability of the region,” and he urged the nation to take concrete steps to resolve the concerns involving its missiles and nuclear arms.
The United States condemned the missile launch and demanded that North Korea not conduct a third nuclear test. At the same time, the United States stated its readiness to improve relations with North Korea, referring to the call made by President Barack Obama to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in March and saying, “We hold no hostility toward North Korea. The path to peacefully coexisting with the international community is open to them.”
Meanwhile, South Korea issued a warning to North Korea, stating: “Its provocative actions only result in deepening its isolation.” South Korea went on to call North Korea’s nuclear ambitions “a grave threat for every nation in the world.”
On May 9, the First Preparatory Committee for the 2015 NPT Review Conference took up for discussion the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Japan indicated that it will use the lessons learned from the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant and strengthen its efforts with other nations in shoring up the safety measures at their nuclear energy facilities.
Speaking on this subject, Ambassador Toshiro Ozawa stressed the importance of sharing the lessons learned since the accident with the international community. He said that Japan will make available to nations with nuclear power plants, or nations planning to build new power stations, such information as the countermeasures Japan has taken in the wake of the accident and the safety enhancements it has pursued. To prevent nuclear terrorism, he underscored the need for countries to work together to reinforce security measures so that nuclear materials and nuclear energy facilities can be duly protected.
Mr. Ozawa also announced that Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will co-host the “Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power Safety” to be held in Fukushima Prefecture in December.
The governmental representatives in attendance shared the efforts their nations have undertaken in connection with nuclear energy since the accident at the Fukushima plant. These include performing safety checks (stress tests), disclosing the results of these assessments, and establishing regulatory bodies for their nuclear energy facilities.
(Originally published on May 10, 2012)
On May 8, in Vienna, Austria, site of the First Preparatory Committee for the 2015 NPT Review Conference, Japan, the United States, and South Korea raised the subject of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program for discussion. Amid growing concern that North Korea may pursue a third nuclear test, the three nations strongly criticized North Korea’s nuclear intentions, pressing it to renounce its entire nuclear arsenal.
Ambassador Toshiro Ozawa, permanent mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, stressed that North Korea’s nuclear program is “a grave challenge to the NPT regime.” Mr. Ozawa went on to say that the launch of a ballistic missile in April, which the nation claimed was a satellite, constituted “a serious provocation, which threatens the peace and stability of the region,” and he urged the nation to take concrete steps to resolve the concerns involving its missiles and nuclear arms.
The United States condemned the missile launch and demanded that North Korea not conduct a third nuclear test. At the same time, the United States stated its readiness to improve relations with North Korea, referring to the call made by President Barack Obama to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in March and saying, “We hold no hostility toward North Korea. The path to peacefully coexisting with the international community is open to them.”
Meanwhile, South Korea issued a warning to North Korea, stating: “Its provocative actions only result in deepening its isolation.” South Korea went on to call North Korea’s nuclear ambitions “a grave threat for every nation in the world.”
Japan to work with other nations in ensuring safety at the world’s nuclear power plants
On May 9, the First Preparatory Committee for the 2015 NPT Review Conference took up for discussion the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Japan indicated that it will use the lessons learned from the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant and strengthen its efforts with other nations in shoring up the safety measures at their nuclear energy facilities.
Speaking on this subject, Ambassador Toshiro Ozawa stressed the importance of sharing the lessons learned since the accident with the international community. He said that Japan will make available to nations with nuclear power plants, or nations planning to build new power stations, such information as the countermeasures Japan has taken in the wake of the accident and the safety enhancements it has pursued. To prevent nuclear terrorism, he underscored the need for countries to work together to reinforce security measures so that nuclear materials and nuclear energy facilities can be duly protected.
Mr. Ozawa also announced that Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will co-host the “Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power Safety” to be held in Fukushima Prefecture in December.
The governmental representatives in attendance shared the efforts their nations have undertaken in connection with nuclear energy since the accident at the Fukushima plant. These include performing safety checks (stress tests), disclosing the results of these assessments, and establishing regulatory bodies for their nuclear energy facilities.
(Originally published on May 10, 2012)
