August 30, Wednesday, 2023

1. The United Nations has emphasized the need to quickly implement the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. However, during a UN General Assembly meeting, the United States and Russia, the world’s two largest nuclear weapons possessors, exchanged accusations against each other. UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi shared the General Assembly president’s warning that the world is closer to a global catastrophe than ever before due to Russia’s ongoing “war against Ukraine.” She stressed that the CTBT needs to be enforced without delay. 2. Members of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party have asked the government to act internationally against China’s reaction to the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. China suspended all imports of Japanese seafood after the discharge began last week. Some public and other facilities in Japan have received many harassing phone calls.
3. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says Japan intends to lead international efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament. Kishida said Japan’s leadership will be based on the results of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima and that the country will work to maintain and strengthen the framework of the NPT, Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.