Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on March 2 made a tearful apology to family members of the two fishermen missing since their boat was hit Feb. 19 by a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer.

Speaking to media later in the day, Fukuda again dismissed calls for Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba to resign over the incident, saying the relatives of the fishermen also want Ishiba to remain in his post.

Family of the missing fishermen wrote in a letter to Fukuda that they want Ishiba, the MSDF chief of staff, and the captain of the destroyer Atago to "continue their jobs and, by doing so, educate younger people," Fukuda said.