Tokyo: Japan has secured a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for a record 12th time in a General Assembly election, with its two-year term set to start next January, Japan Times reported on Friday.
Tokyo’s return to the council, which is in charge of ensuring international peace and security, has appeared increasingly dysfunctional, particularly in the case of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Japan joined the United Nations in 1956 and has long expressed its ambition to become a permanent member of a reformed Security Council. The country last served a nonpermanent term in the 15-member council in the two years through December 2017.
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said in a statement that the Security Council is facing a “challenging time” because it has been “unable to effectively function” in dealing with the Russian aggression, and North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities despite its repeated violations of council resolutions.
Japan, garnered 184 votes and was selected from the Asia-Pacific region, Mozambique from Africa, Ecuador from Latin America, and Switzerland and Malta from Western Europe and other states.
The five countries will join Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates, replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and Norway.
Japan will occupy the rotating chair of the council for January, according to the Foreign Ministry.
