NAGASAKI, Aug. 9 Kyodo, Two major Japanese antinuclear groups wrapped up their annual events in Nagasaki on Monday, the 59th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southern Japan city, by calling for the total elimination of nuclear arms.

In their separate events which started earlier this month in Tokyo and Hiroshima, the Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) and the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Gensuikyo) reiterated their calls on the nuclear powers as well as on nuclear-capable countries to drop their nuclear weapons programs.

They also called for effective international controls toward nuclear disarmament and eventual nuclear weapons abolition under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while voicing concerns over North Korea's nuclear development programs.

Earlier Monday, Nagasaki held a memorial service to mark the 59th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city on Aug. 9, 1945, three days after the world's first atomic bomb was used against Hiroshima.

Thousands of Japanese and foreign peace activists had arrived in Nagasaki after holding rallies in Hiroshima, which held a memorial service on Friday.

Every year, the two nationwide organizations hold various seminars, symposiums, lectures, discussions, forums and international conferences inviting peace and antinuclear icons from home and abroad.

Gensuikin has close ties with the Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party, while Gensuikyo has close ties with the Japanese Communist Party.

Gensuikyo was established in 1955, but in 1963 differences among its members over views on civil use of nuclear power by the former Soviet bloc divided the group, resulting in the 1965 birth of Gensuikin. Since then, they have rarely acted together.

2004-08-09 18:21:05JST