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Japan hails agreement on New START as important step towards nuclear disarmament

At the same time, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary noted that a broader structure on arms control was needed in order to achieve a nuclear-weapons-free world

TOKYO, January 27. /TASS/. The agreement between Russia and the United States on extending New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is an important step towards nuclear disarmament, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a news conference in Tokyo.

"We welcome this. This is an important step towards nuclear disarmament for both countries," Kato said. At the same time, he noted that a broader structure on arms control was needed in order to achieve a nuclear-weapons-free world.

Russia and the United States signed New START in 2010. The document stipulates that seven years after its entry into effect each party should have no more than a total of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and strategic bombers, as well as no more than 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs and strategic bombers, and a total of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers and strategic bombers.

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma (lower house) a bill on ratifying the agreement on extending New START for five years - until February 5, 2026. Putin and US President Joe Biden held a phone conversation, expressing satisfaction over exchanging notes between the two countries on extending the document.