Government Condemns Japanese Politicians' Yasukuni Offerings and Visits as "Anachronistic Acts"
Takaichi Offers Tribute as Prime Minister...
Four Current Cabinet Members Also Visit Yasukuni Shrine
Foreign Ministry: "Reflect and Show Remorse for the Past Through Actions...
An Essential Basis for Trust Between South Korea and Japan"
On August 15, the South Korean government strongly criticized Japanese politicians for offering tributes and visiting the Yasukuni Shrine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a spokesperson's statement that day, saying, "We cannot help but express regret over the anachronistic acts by responsible senior Japanese officials, who once again offered tributes or made visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, a site that glorifies Japan’s past war of aggression and enshrines war criminals, displaying a clear disregard for history."
The ministry continued, urging Japanese leaders to "face history head-on and demonstrate humble self-reflection and genuine remorse for past actions through concrete deeds," adding, "This is an essential basis for building a future-oriented South Korea-Japan relationship rooted in trust."
On this day, which marks Korea's Liberation Day and the anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi personally paid for a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, doing so in her capacity as president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, not as prime minister.
Additionally, four current cabinet members—Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories Policy Hitoshi Kikawada, Minister for Economic Security Kimi Onoda, and Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Minoru Kiuchi—visited the Yasukuni Shrine in person.
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Members of a cross-party parliamentary league called "Parliamentarians for Visiting Yasukuni Shrine Together," as well as lawmakers from the ruling party’s "Conservative Solidarity Group," also made visits. In addition, Sohei Kamiya, leader of the right-wing Sanseito party, and Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the Japan Conservative Party, visited the Yasukuni Shrine that day as well.
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