The Japanese government admitted on Tuesday in a statement the killing of noncombat people by the Japanese imperial army in the Nanjing Massacre in China, Kyodo News reported.

The Japanese government thinks it can not deny such facts as killing of noncombat people and plunder, but it is difficult for the government to make a conclusion on the exact number of the slain people since there have been different voices, the statement said.

The statement was released in response to an inquiry by a member of the Lower House, or the House of Representatives.