Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga apologized on Tuesday after the nation's top court found the state to have been negligent in its duty to protect construction workers from contracting lung cancer and other illnesses linked to asbestos.

Meeting plaintiffs in four suits on which the Supreme Court ruled the previous day, Suga said at the Prime Minister's Office that the government "sincerely reflects" on its past conduct.

"I offer my apologies in representing the government," Suga said, adding, "In view of the Supreme Court ruling, we would like to reach a basic agreement toward a swift settlement while paying full respect to your opinions."