I sincerely welcome the United Kingdom's decision taken on 8 July to reduce the number of nuclear warheads to be carried on Trident submarines. This courageous action will improve the international nuclear disarmament climate. Japan's consistent and fundamental stance underlines the importance of taking practical and concrete nuclear disarmament measures one by one, with a view to creating a world free of nuclear weapons. Japan has earnestly desired such a large reduction of nuclear warheads and therefore regards highly, the United Kingdom's decision which will encourage international nuclear disarmament efforts. Foreign Ministerial Declaration issued in June 1998 also expresses this determination to carry out nuclear disarmament.
States are extremely important in safeguarding the non-proliferation regime.
We hope that this decision of the United Kingdom will lead to tangible efforts by other nuclear weapons States towards nuclear disarmament. Regarding KEDO, there seems to be a standstill concerning the share of members. At the same time, North Korea seems increasingly irritated by the slow pace. Council member countries was held on 29 and 30 June. Unfortunately, no final agreement was reached.