Nagasaki Marks 69th Anniversary of Atomic Bombing
Japan’s government has still failed to sign on to an international nuclear disarmament effort as the country marks the 69th anniversary Friday of the atomic bombing of his city.
Last year, Mayor Tomihisa Taue said Japan’s inaction “betrayed expectations of the global community”after nearly 80 countries unconditionally pledged to never use nuclear weapons. The document, prepared in Geneva by a U.N. committee, is symbolic for tis other signatories because none possess nuclear weapons or are known t heave the ability to make a nuclear arsenal. Japan also does not possess a nuclear device and has pledged not to produce any although some hawkish members of the ruling party say the country should consider a nuclear option.
Taue said that as the world’s only victim of atomic bombing, Japan’s refusal to come on board the initiative contradicted its non-nuclear pledge.
“I call on the government of Japan to return to the origin of our pledge as an atomic-bombed country,” he said at a peace park near the epicenter of the blast.