Japan on Sunday marked 72 years since the world ’s first nuclear attack on Hiroshima, with the nation ’s traditional contradictions over atomic weapons again coming into focus .
The anniversary came after Japan sided last month with nuclear powers Britain , France and the US to dismiss a UN treaty banning atomic weapons, which was rejected by critics for ignoring the reality of security threats such as North Korea .
Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic attacks, in 1945 .
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , speaking at the annual ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park near the ground zero , said Japan hoped to push for a world without nuclear weapons in a way that all countries can agree .
“For us to truly pursue a world without nuclear weapons, we need participation from both nuclear -weapons and non -nuclear weapons states ,” Abe said in his speech at the annual ceremony .
“Our country is committed to leading the international community by encouraging both sides ” to make progress toward abolishing nuclear arms, Abe added without directly referring to the UN treaty .
Japanese officials have criticised the UN Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty as deepening a divide between countries with and without nuclear arms . None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons took part in the negotiations or vote on the treaty .
Japanese officials routinely argue that they abhor nuclear weapons, but the nation ’ s defence is firmly set under the US nuclear umbrella .
Japan suffered two nuclear attacks at the end of the World War II by the United States — in Hiroshima on August 6 , 1945 , and in Nagasaki three days later .
The bombings claimed the lives of 140 ,000 people in Hiroshima and 74 , 000 people in Nagasaki . Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation- related illnesses weeks , months and years later.
Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15 , 1945.
Many in Japan feel the attacks amount to war crimes and atrocities because they targeted civilians and due to the unprecedented destructive nature of the weapons .
But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives , thus justifying the bombings .
Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima in May last year , paying moving tribute to victims of the devastating bomb .
Japan Marks 72 Years Since Hiroshima Atomic Bomb
