Un Official Leaves For A - Bombed Japanese Cities


UN official leaves for A-bombed Japanese cities

UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi will attend ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August to mark the 75th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the Japanese cities.

Nakamitsu decided to travel after Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave up his trip to Hiroshima due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ahead of her departure, Nakamitsu told NHK that she wants to send a message from the atomic-bombed cities to convey the UN commitment to nuclear disarmament.

She admitted that nuclear disarmament efforts are facing difficulties.

The New START Treaty between the US and Russia is feared to terminate after expiring next February.

Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT, could divide between nuclear powers and others at next year's UN review conference on the NPT.

Nakamitsu said making progress would be very hard, but that she has not lost hope.

She proposed three focuses for the NPT meeting: declaring not using nuclear weapons; reconfirming the importance of the NPT; and measures to reduce risks by maintaining more transparency of nuclear arsenals.

Nakamitsu left New York on Saturday. After arriving in Tokyo on Sunday, she plans to quarantine herself for 14 days, hold talks with government officials, and attend the ceremonies in the two cities.