Press Releases

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will host the 14th Asia Senior-Level Talks on Non-Proliferation (ASTOP) on January 31 in Tokyo. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane will deliver opening remarks on behalf of the Government of Japan.

2. Japan has hosted ASTOP since 2003 to discuss the strengthening of non-proliferation efforts in Asia with the participation of senior government officials in charge of non-proliferation policies from the ten ASEAN member states, China, India,　Republic of Korea as well as Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and the United States, which share a common interest in the security of the Asian region.

3. Ambassador Masahiro Kawasaki, Deputy Director-General, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will serve as chair of ASTOP. Discussions will focus on North Korea’s nuclear and missile issues including sanctions against North Korea (PDF), as well as ways to strengthen counter-proliferation efforts.