Statement by Ambassador Mr. Atsushi KAIFU at the 66th Session of the Preparatory Commission
2026/6/15
Chair,
Japan wishes to express its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Chair,
Japan sincerely congratulates you upon your election, and looks forward to fruitful discussions under your able leadership. Japan highly appreciates ES Dr. Floyd for his statement with important and candid updates on the activities of the PTS.
Japan regards the CTBT as an essential element that supports the NPT-regime and one of the realistic and practical steps towards a “world without nuclear weapons”. Number of statements delivered in support of the CTBT at the NPT Review Conference in NY are a powerful reminder of this conviction. Recent dramatic shifts in the international security environment remind us why this architecture of the CTBT, with its verification regime at its heart, must not only be preserved but strengthened.
The Preparatory Commission, with its aim to undertake all necessary preparations to ensure the operationalization of the Treaty's verification regime at entry into force, faces enormous challenges. We, States Signatories, must be honest with ourselves about tasks before us lest we fall short of that founding mandate. The IMS, currently at 90% completion, is aging. Recapitalization is an existential question for monitoring capability. Without adequate and timely investment, we risk its quiet erosion. We continue to find a way to tackle this issue.
And, our objective of the entry into force of the Treaty remains unchanged. Without the signing and ratification by the Annex 2 States, the legally binding prohibition we have long sought remains just out of reach. But it cannot be an excuse for paralysis. Vital works on transparency, accountability, and confidence-building measures that give real meaning to the nuclear test moratorium can be done. Japan is fully prepared to engage in these works.
Chair,
With regards to the financial liquidity situation in the 2027 budget deliberations, Japan wishes to see, given financial difficulties PTS now faces, constructive and creative discussion on how to best allocate resources where they matter most. Japan calls on the PTS, while recognizing its technical professionalisms, to continue pursuing cost efficiencies, and also urges all States Signatories to pay its assessed contribution, including its arrears, in full and without further delay.
Chair,
For the effectiveness of the verification regime technical capabilities of States Signatories are key. Japan is proud of its longstanding support for capacity building through the Global Seismological Observation Training Course, conducted in partnership with Japan’s International Cooperation Agency. Japan welcomes the Integrated Field Exercise (IFE) in Namibia in October as it offers an invaluable opportunity to test and refine critical verification operations for eventual entry into force of the treaty. Japan will contribute to the IFE with our experts on the ground.
Chair,
North Korea’s nuclear issue is not merely a regional concern but a global challenge that strikes at the very core of the CTBT’s purpose and verification mandate. Many voices of concern about its nuclear and missile development were raised at the NPT Review Conference. We must continue to take up this issue at the Prep Com and Working Groups. Japan expresses serious concerns over the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. We urge North Korea not to conduct any further destabilizing or provocative actions, including a nuclear test. Japan also urges North Korea to comply with its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, to return to full compliance with the NPT and to sign and ratify the CTBT at the earliest possible date. Japan reiterates its firm dedication to achieving the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and remains resolute in upholding its crucial responsibilities toward this goal.
Chair,
On Japan’s defense capabilities, it is necessary to ensure the security of Japan in the face of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II. Under the Constitution, Japan has been and will be adhering to the exclusively defense-oriented policy, not becoming a military power that poses a threat to other countries including neighboring ones.
Chair, in conclusion,
Thirty years ago, the world chose to give birth to this Treaty. Upon the 30th anniversary of the opening for signing, the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT is planned to be held in September in NY, co-chaired by Japan and Australia. We look forward to welcoming high-level representatives from all States Signatories. Let us all together to carry the torch forward. I trust that this session will prove to be worthy of the moment.
Thank you, Chair.
Japan wishes to express its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Chair,
Japan sincerely congratulates you upon your election, and looks forward to fruitful discussions under your able leadership. Japan highly appreciates ES Dr. Floyd for his statement with important and candid updates on the activities of the PTS.
Japan regards the CTBT as an essential element that supports the NPT-regime and one of the realistic and practical steps towards a “world without nuclear weapons”. Number of statements delivered in support of the CTBT at the NPT Review Conference in NY are a powerful reminder of this conviction. Recent dramatic shifts in the international security environment remind us why this architecture of the CTBT, with its verification regime at its heart, must not only be preserved but strengthened.
The Preparatory Commission, with its aim to undertake all necessary preparations to ensure the operationalization of the Treaty's verification regime at entry into force, faces enormous challenges. We, States Signatories, must be honest with ourselves about tasks before us lest we fall short of that founding mandate. The IMS, currently at 90% completion, is aging. Recapitalization is an existential question for monitoring capability. Without adequate and timely investment, we risk its quiet erosion. We continue to find a way to tackle this issue.
And, our objective of the entry into force of the Treaty remains unchanged. Without the signing and ratification by the Annex 2 States, the legally binding prohibition we have long sought remains just out of reach. But it cannot be an excuse for paralysis. Vital works on transparency, accountability, and confidence-building measures that give real meaning to the nuclear test moratorium can be done. Japan is fully prepared to engage in these works.
Chair,
With regards to the financial liquidity situation in the 2027 budget deliberations, Japan wishes to see, given financial difficulties PTS now faces, constructive and creative discussion on how to best allocate resources where they matter most. Japan calls on the PTS, while recognizing its technical professionalisms, to continue pursuing cost efficiencies, and also urges all States Signatories to pay its assessed contribution, including its arrears, in full and without further delay.
Chair,
For the effectiveness of the verification regime technical capabilities of States Signatories are key. Japan is proud of its longstanding support for capacity building through the Global Seismological Observation Training Course, conducted in partnership with Japan’s International Cooperation Agency. Japan welcomes the Integrated Field Exercise (IFE) in Namibia in October as it offers an invaluable opportunity to test and refine critical verification operations for eventual entry into force of the treaty. Japan will contribute to the IFE with our experts on the ground.
Chair,
North Korea’s nuclear issue is not merely a regional concern but a global challenge that strikes at the very core of the CTBT’s purpose and verification mandate. Many voices of concern about its nuclear and missile development were raised at the NPT Review Conference. We must continue to take up this issue at the Prep Com and Working Groups. Japan expresses serious concerns over the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. We urge North Korea not to conduct any further destabilizing or provocative actions, including a nuclear test. Japan also urges North Korea to comply with its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, to return to full compliance with the NPT and to sign and ratify the CTBT at the earliest possible date. Japan reiterates its firm dedication to achieving the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and remains resolute in upholding its crucial responsibilities toward this goal.
Chair,
On Japan’s defense capabilities, it is necessary to ensure the security of Japan in the face of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II. Under the Constitution, Japan has been and will be adhering to the exclusively defense-oriented policy, not becoming a military power that poses a threat to other countries including neighboring ones.
Chair, in conclusion,
Thirty years ago, the world chose to give birth to this Treaty. Upon the 30th anniversary of the opening for signing, the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT is planned to be held in September in NY, co-chaired by Japan and Australia. We look forward to welcoming high-level representatives from all States Signatories. Let us all together to carry the torch forward. I trust that this session will prove to be worthy of the moment.
Thank you, Chair.