Andrew Lee, the U.S. consul general  in Sapporo, visited Misawa City Hall on Nov. 15 and met with Mayor Yoshinori Kohiyama. An F-16 fighter deployed to the U.S. military base in Misawa accidentally dropped a dummy bomb on private land in Rokkasho Village [Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture]. [During his meeting with the mayor] Lee said he will make efforts to prevent a recurrence.  

After the meeting, Lee said to reporters: “The incident is very regrettable. We will fortify the cooperative framework with those involved and take safety measures.”

Mayor Kohiyama said he had asked Lee during the meeting to “convey to Misawa Base to prevent a recurrence of such an accident.”

Lee assumed office as Consul General in August and visited the city hall to pay a courtesy call on the mayor.