A Japanese atomic bomb survivors group that won the Nobel Peace Prize has strongly criticised US President Donald Trump's surprise directive to begin nuclear weapons testing, calling it "utterly unacceptable".

More than 200,000 people were killed when the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, the only time nuclear weapons have been used during warfare.

Survivors -- known as "hibakusha" -- have battled decades of physical and psychological trauma, as well as the stigma that often came with being a victim.

After Trump said Thursday that he had ordered the Pentagon to start nuclear weapons testing to equal China and Russia, Nobel laureate Nihon Hidankyo sent a letter of protest to the US embassy in Japan.

The directive "directly cont

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