Japan will not seek US atomic bomb apology

The Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said yesterday he had no plans to seek an apology from the US over the atomic bombings of Japan during the second world war. "I think it's more important to focus on nuclear disarmament than to use our energy seeking an apology from the United States," he said during a political debate.

His remarks came as the Japanese defence minister, Fumio Kyuma, came under fire for saying the US atomic bombings of Japan during the second world war were inevitable. In a speech on Saturday, Mr Kyuma said: "I understand that the bombing ended the war, and I think that it couldn't be helped."

Amid mounting criticism from survivors of the bombs and lawmakers, from both opposition and ruling blocs, he apologised yesterday. "I am sorry if my comments gave the impression I disrespect the victims," Mr Kyuma said at a news conference in Nagasaki, where he is from.

The US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki near the end of the second world war.

The defence minister tried to quell criticism by saying his comments had been misinterpreted. Mr Kyuma told reporters late on Saturday he meant to say the bombing "could not be helped from the American point of view".