Arab News Japan

TOKYO: A United Nations resolution, “Weapons of Mass Destruction in Outer Space,” submitted by Japan, the United States, and Argentina, was adopted with the support of 167 countries at a Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

The four countries that voted against the resolution were North Korea, Iran, Russia, and Syria, while Belarus, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Lebanon, and Nicaragua abstained. 

The UN resolution emphasizes the importance of full compliance with relevant international law, including the Outer Space Treaty, from the perspective of maintaining peace and safety in outer space. It encourages member states not to develop nuclear weapons and/or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction specifically designed to be placed in outer space.

The Foreign Ministry in Tokyo says Japan will continue to actively take part in international discussions on issues related to international rulemaking on outer space activities to prevent an arms race in outer space.

The UN said the resolution “affirms the obligation of all Outer Space Treaty States parties not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of mass destruction weapons, install such weapons on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner.”

In addition, it emphasizes the need to advance measures with effective verification as early as possible to prevent an outer space arms race.