Kerry becomes first U.S. official to visit Hiroshima Peace Park

Secretary of State John Kerry became the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the Hiroshima Peace Park Memorial on Monday when he laid a wreath paying his respects to those who died when the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Japan.

Kerry also described a museum there as “stunning” and “gut-wrenching” and said it was a reminder to all in public life to work for a world free of nuclear weapons.

His appearance, just footsteps away from Ground Zero, completed an evolution for the United States, whose leaders avoided the city for many years because of political sensitivities.