South Korea Condemns Japanese Officials' Visit to Yasukuni Shrine

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Japanese officials' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, stating, "We cannot help but express our dismay."

In a statement, the ministry said, "The government is dismayed by the actions of responsible Japanese leaders who continue to offer tributes or visit the Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's past invasion wars and enshrines war criminals, reflecting a retrogressive disregard for history."

The ministry urged Japanese leaders to confront history and demonstrate genuine reflection and remorse through their actions, emphasizing that this is a crucial foundation for building a future-oriented Korea-Japan relationship based on mutual trust.

On this day, which marks both Korea's Liberation Day and Japan's defeat in World War II, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit the shrine but made a monetary offering in her capacity as the president of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Four current ministers, including Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs Minister Hitoshi Kikawada, Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda, and Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Minoru Kiuichi, visited the Yasukuni Shrine. Key officials from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party also participated in a rare group visit.