Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 resulted in the deaths of over 2,400 people and the destruction of much of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Japan did not issue a formal apology for this event until 1995 when Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama expressed "deep remorse" for all those affected by World War II, including those affected by Japanese actions at Pearl Harbor. Since then, there have been several more apologies from successive prime ministers which have helped to improve relations between Japan and its former enemies, including the United States. However, some critics remain regarding these apologies due to their failure to directly address issues such as reparations or compensation payments made to victims of war crimes.