Japan’s defence minister apologises for remarks on atomic bomb attacks

JAPAN’S defence minister apologised yesterday for comments about the 1945 US atomic bomb attacks on the country that outraged survivors and drew criticism from the ruling bloc ahead of a key election in July.

Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma said he had not meant to offend the victims when he said on Saturday that the bombings “couldn’t be helped” because they had brought World War II to an end and prevented the Soviet Union from entering the war against Japan.

“If my remarks were seen as lacking regard for the feelings of atomic bomb victims, then I am sorry,” he told a news conference.