Korea deplores Japanese officials' visits to Yasukuni Shrine

Korea expressed strong disapproval on Saturday of visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese officials and politicians, calling for Japan's leaders to confront their history and demonstrate contrition in order to build bilateral ties founded on mutual trust. The Foreign Ministry released a statement after Japanese ministers and lawmakers either visited or made offerings at the shrine, a potent symbol of Japan's wartime past, on the anniversary of Japan's 1945 surrender in World War II.

The government could only express regret over the outdated and historically misinformed actions of responsible Japanese authorities who have once again paid their respects or visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's history of aggression and commemorates convicted war criminals. The ministry urged Japan's leaders to face the past squarely and show remorse through their actions, stating that this is a crucial foundation for developing future-oriented Korea-Japan relations built on mutual trust.

Kim Hak-jo, director general of international policy at Korea's Defense Ministry, summoned Takeshi Nagayoshi, Japan's Defense Minister, to discuss the matter.