Press Releases
The Adoption of the Weapons of Mass Destruction in Outer Space Resolution, submitted by Japan, U.S., and Argentina, at the United Nations General Assembly
December 3, 2024
On December 3 (December 2 local time), the resolution entitled “Weapons of Mass Destruction in Outer Space,” submitted by Japan, United States, and Argentina, was adopted with the support of 167 countries at the Plenary Meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
- This 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 the outer space and urges the Member States not to develop nuclear weapons and any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction specifically designed to be placed in outer space.
- The draft resolution was submitted to the first committee by Japan, United States, and Argentina with 55 sponsors, and adopted on November 8 (local time). At the plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, the resolution was adopted with overwhelming majority of the Member States, including nuclear-weapon States such as France, United Kingdom and United States as well as non-nuclear weapon States among others, which agreed with the view that outer space must remain a domain free of nuclear weapon and any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, amidst widening division with in the international community surrounding nuclear disarmament and increasingly severe security environment.
- Japan will continue to actively take part in international discussions on issues related to international rule-making on outer space activities in order to prevent an arms race in outer space from the perspective of advancing effective rule-making.
(Reference1)Results of the voting for the adoption of the draft resolution at the Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly
- Affirmative votes:
- 167
- Negative votes:
- 4
- Abstentions:
- 6
(Reference2) Results of the voting in the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (November 8, 2024)
- Affirmative votes:
- 159
- Negative votes:
- 5
- Abstentions:
- 6
(Reference3) Attachment
