Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations General Assembly on Agenda Item 91 “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”

Mr. President,
 
I would like to begin by expressing my highest respect to Director General Grossi for his strong leadership in guiding the IAEA to exercise its full authority.
 
Mr. President,
 
The peaceful uses of nuclear energy constitute an important pillar of the NPT and contribute to socio-economic development worldwide, including the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
 
Japan continues to provide human resources as well as technical and financial support to the IAEA, including through its contributions to the Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI) and technical cooperation projects. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan has additionally contributed a total of 11 million euros to support the IAEA’s countermeasures against infectious diseases.
 
By seeking gender parity we can bring in new insights and wisdom to the important agenda of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and non-proliferation. In order to create opportunities for more female scientists in the nuclear field, Japan has been supporting the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme since its launch, and will continue to do so.
 
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident. Japan is grateful that the IAEA successfully hosted last week “the International Conference on a Decade of Progress after Fukushima-Daiichi” aimed at building on the lessons learned to further strengthen nuclear safety.
 
The decommissioning of this Power Station is progressing under the principles of achieving both “Reconstruction and Decommissioning”, and the IAEA's reviews have been conducted throughout the entire process.
 
Japan will continue to update the international community in a transparent manner based on scientific evidence, and will continue to cooperate with the IAEA, as mentioned by IAEA Director General Grossi in his opening remarks, in implementing the Agency's reviews.
 
The role of the IAEA is critically important in addressing key problems faced by the international non-proliferation regime. IAEA safeguards are the most fundamental instrument for the regime, and Japan strongly supports the IAEA’s work to make these safeguards more efficient and effective.
 
Concerning nuclear security, Japan will also continue to cooperate with the IAEA.
 
As no single nation can ensure global nuclear security, Japan underscores the important role of legal frameworks such as the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (ACPPNM) and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). Japan continues to strive for making these conventions more universal, including through contributions to the 2022 ACPPNM Review Conference.
 
Mr. President,
 
Please allow me to touch upon some of the most pressing issues that the international non-proliferation regime faces today.
 
On North Korea’s nuclear issue, Japan is deeply concerned about North Korea’s continued development of nuclear and missile capabilities as demonstrated by the country’s recent missile launches and as also highlighted in the IAEA Director General’s Report in August. Japan reaffirms its strong commitment to the goal of achieving complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of North Korea’s nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and related facilities as well as ballistic missiles of all ranges in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Japan also emphasizes the critical importance for all States to fully implement these resolutions.
 
The JCPOA contributes to strengthening the international non-proliferation regime and to the stability of the Middle East. Japan hopes to see progress towards the immediate return of all relevant parties to compliance under the JCPOA. Japan strongly urges Iran to refrain from measures that undermine the agreement and to cooperate fully and immediately with the IAEA on safeguards issues.
 
Mr. President,
 
The NPT is the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The 10th Review Conference is scheduled to take place very soon, and Japan will spare no effort to achieve a successful outcome that will maintain and strengthen the NPT regime. Japan expects the IAEA to play an even more important role to this end.
 
In closing, I would like to reiterate Japan’s firm commitment to continuing to provide its full support for the IAEA to further promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
 
I thank you.