SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The agency for the South Korean band BTS has apologized for a member wearing a T-shirt depicting the explosion of an atomic bomb.

Japanese TV broadcasters recently cancelled planned appearances in that country after images went viral of the musician wearing the shirt.

The Big Hit Entertainment said in a statement Wednesday it was offering "our sincere apologies" for "failing to take the precautions that could have prevented the wearing of such clothing by our artist."

Atomic bombs were dropped by U.S. warplanes over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II.

Many South Koreans harbor strong resentment against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The seven-member band is extremely popular across Asia and has reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart.