Nagasaki Marks 68th Anniversary of Atomic Bombing

Nagasaki mayor criticized Japan's government for lacking effort in international nuclear disarmament as the country marks the 68th anniversary of atomic bombing on the southern city.

Mayor Tomihisa Taue said at Friday's ceremony that Tokyo's refusal to sign a statement rejecting unconditional use of nuclear weapons at an international disarmament meeting in April betrayed the global society's expectations.

He said Japan should take leadership as the only country attacked by atomic bomb. He offered his support for the reconstruction of Fukushima devastated by the 2011 nuclear crisis.

The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945, The first on Hiroshima killed 140,000 people and the Nagasaki bomb killed another 70,000. The attacks prompted Japan's World War II surrender.