New York 23.09.2025 “We must ask whether the current United Nations is really fulfilling the role it was originally expected to play.” — Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan.

He pointed out that responsibility for the UN’s most important function — the maintenance of international peace and security — rests with the Security Council. He observed, however, that “in many critical cases, the Council was unable to take the necessary decisions due to the veto power granted to the permanent members”.
“Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is the most obvious example,” he pointed out, stating that this situation “shakes the very foundation of the international order” as Moscow’s aggression against Kyiv continues.

Japan has done all it can to achieve lasting peace in the world since the end of World War II, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in his general debate speech at a U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. https://t.co/kf5XWbwqHU

— The Japan Times (@japantimes) September 24, 2025

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He added: “The veto was an unavoidable safety valve designed to prevent direct conflict between the major Powers; however, the inherent limitations of the UN are clear.” In this context, he underscored the need to decisively implement Council reform, making the organ more representative without losing its effectiveness.

Turning to the issue of nuclear weapons — with a permanent member of the Security Council “openly making nuclear threats” — he voiced concern that the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons may be lowered.
“The nuclear catastrophe our nation has experienced must never be repeated,” he underscored.

“It is North Korea that is now challenging these efforts towards a world without nuclear weapons head-on,” he continued, urging full implementation of the numerous Council resolutions aimed at the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) opens on September 9, 2025. Two weeks later, High-Level General Debate starts Tuesday, September 23, 2025.

As the United Nations marks its 80th year, global leaders will convene in New York City to build consensus and confront complex global challenges. Eight decades after its establishment, the UN remains the only place on Earth where countries can gather to work through their differences and find common ground — shaping our shared future.

While taking floor the Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “impunity is the mother of chaos” as world leaders gathered to mark its 80th anniversary and open the General Debate. The UN chief said cooperation is “a practical strategy for survival, not an act of naiveté,” but cautioned that the principles of peace and progress are being eroded by war, inequality and climate chaos.