The United Nations has underscored the urgent requirement to promptly put into effect the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). However, during a session of the UN General Assembly, the United States and Russia, the two largest possessors of nuclear weapons globally, engaged in mutual accusations, NHK reports.
The meeting took place on August 29 to coincide with the UN-declared International Day against Nuclear Tests.
Nakamitsu Izumi, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, conveyed the warning from the president of the General Assembly that the world is currently closer to a global catastrophe due to Russia's ongoing "war against Ukraine." She emphasized the imperative need for the immediate implementation of the CTBT.
Since its adoption in 1996, a total of 178 nations, including Japan, have signed and ratified the treaty. For the treaty to come into force, it requires ratification by 44 specific countries, yet eight among them, including the US, China, and North Korea, are yet to do so.
Russia has ratified the treaty; however, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in February that the country would conduct new nuclear tests if the US followed suit.
During the meeting, the US representative expressed concerns over Russia's nuclear rhetoric in the past 18 months, particularly highlighting Putin's statement in February about Russia's willingness to resume nuclear explosive testing.
In response, the Russian representative expressed concern that the US, the only nation that has employed nuclear weapons and has conducted the most nuclear tests, has not ratified the CTBT. While discussions also touched on concerns about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, the representative from Pyongyang did not provide any statements during the meeting.
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