<p align="justify">Japan today 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.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />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.<br /><br />Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic attacks, in 1945.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Japanese officials routinely argue that they abhor nuclear weapons, but the nation's defence is firmly set under the US nuclear umbrella.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15, 1945.<br /><br />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.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima in May last year, paying moving tribute to victims of the devastating bomb. </p>
<p align="justify">Japan today 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.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />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.<br /><br />Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic attacks, in 1945.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Japanese officials routinely argue that they abhor nuclear weapons, but the nation's defence is firmly set under the US nuclear umbrella.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15, 1945.<br /><br />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.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings.</p>.<p align="justify"><br />Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima in May last year, paying moving tribute to victims of the devastating bomb. </p>