Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara on Thursday retracted remarks suggesting that paying off local authorities in cash would ultimately solve the problem of where to store radiation-tainted soil from Fukushima Prefecture, after opposition parties demanded his resignation.

Ishihara also said he would visit the region to apologize in person shortly after the Diet session closes for summer.

But he made clear that he had no intention of resigning, saying he wanted to fulfill his responsibilities as the environment minister.