Abe cautions Kyuma to watch his tongue following A-bomb remarks

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sternly warned Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma on Monday to be more careful with his words following weekend comments taken as justifying the U.S. atomic bombing of Japan in World War II. "I hope the minister will continue to carry out his duties especially on the issue of nuclear disarmament after having reflected on his words and fully grasped the weight of such remarks," Abe told reporters, rejecting calls from the opposition that Kyuma be sacked.

Kyuma apologized for and retracted the remarks Sunday. "I told him that Japan is the world's only country to have suffered from atomic bombs and that we must always consider the feelings of the A-bomb sufferers in Nagasaki and Hiroshima and consider their feelings," Abe told reporters separately. "I cautioned him to take care not to make remarks that will cause misunderstanding."