STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. TOSHIO SANO AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAPAN TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

The 1371^st Plenary Meeting of the Conference on Disarmament

Geneva, 26^th January 2016

Mr. President,

Allow me to congratulate you, Ambassador Emuze, on the assumption of the first Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament during its 2016 session and I assure you of my delegation’s full support as you lead the CD. I would also like to thank, Mr. Kim Won-Soo, the Acting High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, for the important remarks on behalf of the UN Secretary-General. We also commend, Mr. Michael Møller, the Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament, and his team for their support to the Conference.

Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to associate myself with the NPDI joint statement, which was already circulated and will be introduced later by the German Ambassador, on the DPRK’s nuclear test on January 6^th. The Japan Meteorological Agency detected seismic waves originating from the DPRK, with a wave pattern which differs from those usually seen in natural earthquakes. This was followed by an announcement by the DPRK that it had conducted what they claim to be a “hydrogen-bomb test.” Having considered these developments comprehensively, the Government of Japan has come to the conclusion that the DPRK conducted its fourth nuclear test despite the repeated calls by the international community to fully comply with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs).

This nuclear test is totally unacceptable for Japan, as it constitutes a grave threat to its security, and seriously undermines the peace and security of Northeast Asia as well as the international community, when considered together with the DPRK’s enhancement of its ballistic missile capability.

This nuclear test is a clear violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. In addition, it represents a grave challenge not only to the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime centered on the NPT, but also in the effort to accelerate the entry into force of the CTBT. It also violates the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration as well as the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks of September 2005, and goes against the efforts to resolve various issues through dialogue. Thus, Japan lodges a serious protest against the DPRK, and strongly condemns its nuclear test. Japan reiterates its strong demand for the DPRK to immediately and fully implement the relevant UNSCRs.

Mr. President,

Regarding this year’s CD session, CD Member States should have the sense of urgency to move forward and end the nearly two decade stalemate. This year, the OEWG, established by the UN General Assembly Resolution 70/33, will hold several meetings in Geneva. This is a wake-up call from the international community that the CD should fulfil its mandate and not work ‘business as usual.’

In this context, Japan believes that the CD members should exhaust their efforts with a sense of urgency, but to allow for sufficient time to agree on a Program of Work at an early stage. Every core issue of the CD has its own role and value. In our view, the CD should immediately commence negotiations on an FMCT, which aims at quantity capping by banning production of fissile materials for use in nuclear weapons. An FMCT is the next logical building block towards the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons.

Mr. President,

In closing, Japan is fully committed to achieving the total elimination of nuclear weapons, and with this in mind we intend to continue to steadily promote practical steps and effective measures. We look forward to working with Member States.

Thank you, Mr. President.