''Now that the danger of terrorism is realistic, we need to make efforts to abolish nuclear arsenals, as the only nation in the world to be attacked by the weapon,'' Koizumi told reporters in the Peace Memorial Park in downtown Hiroshima.

Koizumi said Japan must tell the world how terrible the damage from an atomic bomb attack can be. He spoke to reporters after attending the annual ceremony in Hiroshima on the anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city in 1945.

The premier also said his cabinet will adhere to Japan's ''three principles'' of not producing, possessing, nor allowing nuclear weapons on its territory.

Concern has arisen, particularly in neighboring Asian countries, that Japan may revise its no-nuclear-weapons policy, following remarks by key members in the cabinet.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told an off-the-record meeting with reporters in late May that Japan could possibly revise the no-nuclear policies in the future depending on the global security situation.

Commenting on his absence from a meeting with atomic bomb survivors on Tuesday, Koizumi said he is always trying to understand the reality of the difficulties in atomic bomb survivors' lives, even though he did not meet the survivors in Hiroshima this year.

''I listened to them last year,'' Koizumi said.

Koizumi skipped the annual meeting, in which atomic bomb survivors usually tell premiers what they expect in the way of governmental measures to help them. Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi attended the meeting.