Press Releases
Summary of Japan’s Term as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council
(Statement by Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi)
January 10, 2025
- For two years from the beginning of 2023 to the end of 2024, Japan served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 12th time, the most among the UN Member States. During this period, Japan was facing the most severe security environment since the end of World War II, and the existing international order has been challenged. Against this backdrop, Japan prioritized the rule of law, peacebuilding, and nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, making the utmost contribution to the realization and maintenance of international peace and security.
- In response to repeated launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea, Japan worked closely with the United States, the Republic of Korea, and other countries concerned, and led the discussions at the UNSC to demonstrate a resolute stance against North Korea’s provocations in violation of the relevant UNSC resolutions. In addition, an open briefing of the UNSC on “The situation in the DPRK” was held upon requests from Japan and other countries concerned for the first time since 2017 in August 2023 and again in June 2024, which fostered international discussion with a view to improving North Korea’s human rights situation, including the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
- Through meetings of the UNSC and the UN General Assembly, Japan expressed its strong condemnation of Russia’s protracted aggression against Ukraine, called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian military forces, and advocated for the realization of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the Charter of the United Nations. Furthermore, Japan strongly condemned the advancement of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and their engagement in combat against Ukraine, as well as Russia’s procurement and use of North Korean weapons and munitions.
- Regarding the situation surrounding Gaza, which has been facing a humanitarian catastrophe since the terror attacks by Hamas and others in October 2023, Japan contributed to the adoption of four UNSC resolutions calling for a ceasefire and the release of hostages to ensure that the UNSC fulfills its responsibility since October 2023. Notably, during Japan’s presidency in March 2024, the Council was able to adopt a resolution demanding the parties to realize a ceasefire while Japan vigorously coordinated with other Council members as the President of the Council and a co-penholder.
- Japan also contributed to discussions on key thematic issues, such as Women, Peace and Security (WPS), Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), humanitarian issues, food security, climate change, AI, and outer space. Taking the opportunity of its Presidency of the UNSC twice during its term, Japan hosted a ministerial-level open debate on the rule of law in January 2023, and a ministerial meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in March 2024, as well as two open debates on peacebuilding.
- Over the two-year period, Japan, as a penholder on Afghanistan, led the negotiations on related documents including UNSC resolutions. Japan also actively addressed other complex issues facing the international community, such as the situations in Myanmar, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, Japan chaired UNSC subsidiary bodies, including the Libya Sanctions Committee and the Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee, and sought to realize their appropriate operations.
- Enhancing the transparency and efficiency of the UNSC will lead to strengthening the functions of the UN. In 2024, Japan assumed the chairmanship of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, a subsidiary body of the UNSC, and compiled a comprehensive and systematic Note by the President on the working methods of the Council and related matters. Japan’s leadership in improving the operations and strengthening the functions of the UNSC during each of its Council membership terms since 2006 has been highly praised by a wide range of UN Member States.
- This year marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the UN. Even after the end of its term as a non-permanent member, Japan will continue to advance multilateral diplomacy with the UN at its core, and make a proactive contribution to realizing and maintaining international peace and security, with a view to leading the increasingly divided and confrontational international community toward cooperation.
- At the same time, the UNSC, which bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, must be reformed in order to reflect the present world. Japan aspires to realize early UNSC reform, including the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership, and secure a permanent seat on the Council. Working with many other countries, Japan will continue to make persistent efforts to this end.