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Japan minister quits over gaffe Japan minister quits over gaffe
(about 2 hours later)
Japan's Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma has resigned amid a row over remarks he made about the US atom bomb attacks on Japan during World War II. Japan's Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma has resigned amid a furore over comments he made about the US atom bomb attacks on Japan during World War II.
He said at the weekend that the bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima were "something that couldn't be helped". His apology, and a public rebuke from PM Shinzo Abe, failed to quell anger over his remarks that the bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima were inevitable.
He later apologised for the comments, which angered bomb survivors and sparked calls for his dismissal from opposition politicians. The resignation comes at a sensitive time for Mr Abe, who faces national elections at the end of July.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday rebuked Mr Kyuma. Polls show his support has dropped to its lowest level since he took office.
"Japan is the only country that suffered an atomic bomb. We need to always consider and stand in the position of the survivors," said Mr Abe. His 10-month premiership has been hit by a series of scandals, including one involving missing pension records which has angered voters.
Mr Abe's opinion poll ratings have fallen as his party prepares for national elections for the upper house at the end of July. Mr Kyuma is the second minister to resign under Mr Abe. A farms minister, also hit by scandal, committed suicide in May.
More than 360,000 people died as the result of the two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, in the dying stages of World War II. Election battle
"I regret that my comments have caused trouble. I am very sorry," Mr Kyuma told reporters on Tuesday, adding that Mr Abe had accepted his resignation.
The bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed 360,000 people
His resignation came as the outcry over his remarks showed no sign of diminishing following his earlier apology and public dressing down by Mr Abe.
He was criticised by some of his fellow ministers, and faced a formal request for his resignation by the opposition later on Tuesday.
Mr Kyuma, who represents Nagasaki in parliament, said in a speech on Saturday that the bombs on both his own city and that of Hiroshima in 1945 were "something that couldn't be helped".
He said that, while the bombs caused great suffering in both cities, the US must have thought they "could prompt Japan's surrender, thus preventing the Soviet Union from declaring war against Japan".
Japanese leaders rarely comment on the use of atom bombs against Japan, for fear of damaging ties with the US.
He apologised a day later for giving the impression that he lacked respect for the victims of the bombings.
And he was told by Mr Abe on Monday that he must "strictly refrain from making remarks that cause misunderstanding".
Mr Abe now faces an uphill battle ahead of upper house elections on 29 July, after weekend opinion polls showed support for him had dropped to under 30%.
A heavy defeat for the ruling coalition in the election could lead to calls from within his party for Mr Abe to resign.
More than 360,000 people died as the result of the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, in the last stages of World War II.