Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada welcomed on Wednesday the new U.S. policy of limiting the use of atomic arms, calling it a big step toward a "world without nuclear weapons" but adding that other nuclear powers need to follow suit to make it effective.
"The U.S. has squarely recognized that it would not use nuclear arms on nonnuclear countries," Okada said. "I welcome the review, which is in line with the Japanese government's view and what we have been saying."
The Nuclear Posture Review was released Tuesday by the administration of President Barack Obama, and is the first one since the 2002 review under then President George W. Bush. The 2010 report, which will drive nuclear policy for five to 10 years, renounces the use of nuclear strikes on nonnuclear countries that are in compliance with the Nonproliferation Treaty.