Barack Obama to Make Historic Visit to Hiroshima During Asia Trip

Obama will visit Hiroshima with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as part of the president's travels to Vietnam and Japan from May 21 to May 28, the White House said in a statement.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — President Barack Obama will emphasize nuclear disarmament this month during a historic visit to the Japanese city of Hiroshima, the White House said in a statement on Tuesday. 

Just in: President Obama will visit #Hiroshima after conclusion of G-7 Summit, 1st US Pres to do so pic.twitter.com/Ukm17HLLBZ

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) 10 May 2016

​"Finally, the President will make an historic visit to Hiroshima with Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe to highlight his continued commitment to pursuing the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons," the statement said.  

Obama visiting Hiroshima/Nagasaki would be chance to say civilians should NEVER be targeted. https://t.co/QYpXoBDFqP pic.twitter.com/Cmqg1Foxrp

— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) 10 May 2016

​The visit comes as part of a seven-day trip to Vietnam and Japan for a Group of Seven (G-7) summit.

In Vietnam, Obama will hold meetings with senior officials, where he "will discuss the importance of approving the Trans-Pacific Partnership [free trade agreement]," the statement noted.

Last month, Secretary of State John Kerry visited Hiroshima for a meeting of the G-7 foreign ministers. Kerry then urged Obama to visit the city during the president's upcoming trip to Japan.

In August 2015, Japan marked 70 years since a US B-29 bomber dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, killing about 140,000 people. A second strike three days later killed 70,000 people in the Japanese imperial city of Nagasaki.