Barack Obama: I won’t apologise for bomb in Hiroshima visit

US president Barack Obama yesterday said his visit to Hiroshima, the first city to suffer an atomic bombing, would emphasise friendly ties between former enemies, and reiterated he would not apologise for the devastating attack.

Obama will become the first sitting US president to tour the site of the world’s first nuclear bombing this Friday, accompanied by Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

In an interview with Japanese national broadcaster NHK, Obama — who emphasised decentralisation early in his term — said the reality is that leaders often have to make hard choices during times of conflict and no apologies would be included in brief remarks he is expected to make in the western Japanese city.