HIROSHIMA: US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel on Saturday mentioned the possibility that US President Joe Biden may visit either of the US atomic-bombed cities of Hiroshima or Nagasaki.

Asked whether he will urge Biden to visit the Japanese cities, Emanuel told reporters that he thinks Biden will say he wants to visit either of the two if not both.

If such a visit comes true, Biden would be the second sitting US president to visit an atomic-bombed Japanese city, following former President Barack Obama, who traveled to Hiroshima in May 2016.

Emanuel made the remark after visiting Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park together with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

In Hiroshima, Emanuel and Kishida discussed political schedules, including an expected trip to Japan by Biden.

“Especially when the possibility that nuclear weapons may be used is being discussed as a realistic problem, it is important to make efforts to have many dignitaries, mainly political leaders, visit the sites of the atomic bombings, inspect the realities of the damage inflicted on people and share these with the rest of the world,” Kishida said after his talks with Emanuel.

But Kishida said that he and Emanuel did not discuss Biden’s possible visit to Hiroshima or Nagasaki.

Japan is arranging to host a summit of the Quad nations of Japan, the United States, Australia and India as early as late April.

JIJI Press