Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologized Friday for remarks made last week by close members of his Liberal Democratic Party who called for attacking the income of media organizations that report critically on security legislation drafted by his administration.

"It was extremely inappropriate," Abe told a session of a House of Representatives committee on peace and security legislation. "I apologize for (the remarks) if they hurt the feelings of people in Okinawa Prefecture," he said, referring to an LDP meeting of young lawmakers and a conservative novelist who said the two major newspapers in Okinawa had been "taken over by left-wingers" and should be "destroyed."

In the revealing June 25 meeting, which involved about 40 junior LDP members loyal to Abe, media outlets were lambasted for critical reporting on his security policies.