Japan will increase efforts to seek ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty by sending letters to several countries, including the United States, China, India and Pakistan, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Tuesday.
Komura said the treaty must be ratified by 44 countries for it to go into effect, but only 10 have done so. He said Japan cannot send a letter to North Korea because there are not sufficient diplomatic channels to do so, but Tokyo wants to encourage Pyongyang to ratify the treaty.
Komura also said Japan supports Australia's proposal to hold an international meeting to prepare for formalization of the treaty in September.