TOKYO: The Japanese government reiterated Monday that it has no plans to sign the U.N. treaty to ban nuclear weapons, which will take effect in January 2021.

The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons “is different from our approach,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a press conference.

There is no change in the government’s stance of not signing the treaty, he said.

Kato said there are doubts about whether the treaty has gained enough support not only from nuclear states but also from nonnuclear states.

“We need to pursue nuclear disarmament steadily and realistically while dealing appropriately with security threats,” Kato said.

He declined to say whether Japan will participate as an observer in a meeting of signatory countries, which will start within a year after the treaty takes effect. He only said, “We need to think carefully about it in light of our position.”

The United Nations said Saturday that 50 countries have signed the treaty, paving the way for its entry into force.

JIJI Press