Pyongyang, August 9 (KCNA) -- The number of self-governing bodies declaring themselves nuclear-free is on the increase in Japan.

The Japanese Asahi Shimbun on Wednesday quoted results of a survey as saying 1 540 of the 1 794 autonomous bodies in the country, or 85 percent, declared themselves nuclear-free as of July this year.

The figure is a record high since 1999.