WORLD / Asia-Pacific
Japan minister: US A-bombs "couldn't be helped"
(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-06-30 14:28
Japan's defence minister said on Saturday the 1945 atomic bombings on the
country by the United States "couldn't be helped" as they led to the end
of World War Two, Kyodo news agency reported.
Government officials in Japan -- the only nation to suffer an atomic
bombing -- typically express sympathy for the victims, but avoid
criticising the attacks out of consideration for Tokyo's ties with
Washington, its closest security ally.
However, Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma went further in discussing the
bombing.
"My understanding is that it ended the war and that it couldn't be
helped. I don't intend to despise the United States for it," he said in a
speech near Tokyo, Kyodo said.
"When it was dropped on Nagasaki, it was a tragedy," he was also quoted
as saying.
Kyuma, 66, said he does wonder why the United States had to use the bombs
when its victory against Japan was evident, but added that Washington may
have used them to try to prevent the Soviet Union from entering the war
against Japan.
Japan has been criticised for stressing its status as victim because of
the atomic bombings and failing to acknowledge its own war atrocities.
Kyuma, whose electoral district includes Nagasaki, is known for his
outspokenness, and he has angered Washington with a string of comments
after assuming his post last September.
The ruling party lawmaker has said the United States was
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