The south-western city of Nagasaki on Friday urged the Japanese government to be party in a UN treaty banning nuclear weapons.
The call came as Japan paid tribute to the victims of the U.S. atomic bomb attack on the city 74 years ago.
Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue gave the advice in the annual peace declaration at a ceremony marking the anniversary.
“As the only country in the world to have experienced the devastation caused by nuclear weapons, Japan must sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as soon as possible,” he said.
The treaty was adopted by 122 countries in July 2017, but it has yet to be in force as it has not been ratified by the required 50 countries.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the annual event at the city’s Peace Park, which drew around 5,900 people, including survivors, bereaved families and representatives from 66 countries, broadcaster NHK reported.
The anniversary comes just a week after the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between Russia and the U.S. ended.
“The present world situation involving nuclear weapons is extremely dangerous.
”The opinion that nuclear weapons are useful is once again gaining traction,” Taue said.
“The atomic bombs were built by human hands and exploded over human heads. It follows that nuclear weapons can be eliminated by an act of human will.”
The bombing of Nagasaki killed 74,000 people and came three days after the first atomic bomb dropped by a US B-29 bomber was detonated over the western city of Hiroshima.
