All national papers wrote from New York that the UN General Assembly on Thursday elected Japan, Switzerland, and three other nations as nonpermanent members of the UN Security Council, explaining that this was the twelfth time ever and the first time in five years for Japan to be granted a seat on the powerful body. The two-year tenure begins next January. “We will seek to maintain and strengthen the rules-based international order through close communications and careful dialogue with other UN member states,” Foreign Minister Hayashi said in a released statement.

While noting that the council has failed to take effective measures in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s repeated missile launches due to the confrontation between the U.S.-led democratic camp and China and Russia, the papers said Japan will be able to participate in drafting council resolutions and president’s statements regarding these security challenges. Tokyo is also expected to exercise leadership in reforming the Security Council.