CRI听力:Japan Marks 70th Anniversary of Nagasaki Bombing

The bells rang in a memorial ceremony on Sunday at the Nagasaki Peace Park, the same location where the bomb exploded in 1945 seventy years ago.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the ceremony.

During his remarks, Abe iterated his commitment to nuclear disarmament, referring to Japan's three non-nuclear principles. Those principles were included in a Japanese parliament resolution in the late 1960s, which has forbidden Japan from possessing, manufacturing or allowing nuclear weapons in its territory.

Kim Won-soo, a UN representative, also attended the ceremony. He spoke on behalf of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, delivering Ban's words and resolve in nuclear disarmament.

"Nagasaki must be the last. We cannot allow the future use of any nuclear weapons. Their humanitarian consequences are too great. I whole-heartedly join you in sounding a global rallying cry: 'No More Nagasakis, No More Hiroshimas'."

On August 6th, 1945, US forces dropped an atomic bomb codenamed "Little Boy" on Japan's Hiroshima.

Three days later, another atomic bomb nicknamed "Fat Man"was dropped on Nagasaki, also by the US.

Six days later, Japan unconditionally surrendered, ending WWII.

About 140,000 died in Hiroshima, while an estimated 150,000 died in Nagasaki.

In attendance on Sunday were also survivors of the Nagasaki bombing. One survivor said the memories of the event still haunted her.

"I would never ever want war to happen again. When I remember the atomic bomb, it still makes me tremble."

Nagasaki mayor Tomihisa Taue emphasized that the peaceful path Japan has pursued in the past 7 decades should never be changed for the sake of Nagasaki.

During his speech, Tomihisa Taue also urged the government to dispel public concerns over new security bills, which theoretically allow Japan's Self- Defense Forces to help its allies transport nuclear weapons for logistics support.

"Currently there is a debate in our parliament over laws that will change the nature of our national security. There is also growing worry and concern that our resolve from 70 years ago, the ideal of our peace constitution, is starting to waver. I ask that the government and parliament listen to the worries and concerns of the people and debate this using their wisdom in a careful and in a sincere manner."

In recent months, the Abe administration has heralded a series of controversial and unpopular security bills that would expand the role of the Japanese military beyond self-defense.

Recent polls also showed that the majority of Japanese population is opposed to the bills.

Thee supporting rate for Abe's cabinet dived around 10 percentage points immediately after the ruling bloc rammed the bills through the Diet's lower house in July.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.