(Update) Japan Defense Min. Kyuma Resigns Over A-Bomb Remarks

Tokyo, July 3 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma stepped down Tuesday to take responsibility for controversial remarks he made seemingly justifying the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan in the closing days of World War II.

The resignation of Kyuma, 66, deals yet another blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration, already under fire for missing pension records, in the run-up to the key House of Councillors elections on July 29.

Yuriko Koike, 54, Abe’s national security adviser, will replace Kyuma and become Japan’s first ever female defense minister, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, the top government spokesman, said at a news conference. A ceremony to confirm the appointment will take place on Wednesday.

Kyuma is the second minister forced to step down since Abe took office in September, following Genichiro Sata, who gave up the post of administrative reform minister last December due to a political funding scandal. Toshikatsu Matsuoka, farm minister, killed himself amid a financial scandal in late May.

On Saturday, Kyuma said that the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were an inevitable way to end World War II and could not be helped. The remark caused an uproar in the opposition camp and in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Kyuma, a Liberal Democratic Party member, also faced increasing calls for resignation from within the LDP-led ruling bloc.

Kyuma tendered his resignation at a meeting with Abe on Tuesday afternoon. Abe accepted without attempting to dissuade Kyuma from resigning.

After the meeting, Kyuma told reporters that he was most concerned about the negative impact of his remarks on the governing coalition in the upcoming elections.

Japanese opposition parties are planning to attack Abe for having refused to dismiss Kyuma despite demands for his dismissal.END

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