South Korea Summons Japanese Diplomats Over Yasukuni Shrine Visits

South Korea's government strongly protested Japanese officials' recent actions involving the Yasukuni Shrine, summoning Japanese diplomats to convey its objections. The Foreign Ministry summoned Kazuo Chujo, the chief minister at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge a stern protest and express deep regret over Japanese political figures offering ritual money and visiting the shrine.

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We cannot help but lament the anachronistic acts that forget history, committed by responsible Japanese leaders who have once again offered ritual money and visited the Yasukuni Shrine.

The ministry issued a statement criticizing the acts as "anachronistic" and indicative of a failure to remember history. It specifically condemned the shrine, which enshries 14 Class-A war criminals from World War II, including Hideki Tojo, as a symbol of Japanese militarism. The statement urged Japan's responsible leaders to confront history with humility and demonstrate genuine remorse.

Adding to the diplomatic tension, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense also summoned Takeshi Nagayoshi, the Japanese defense attaché in Seoul, to protest Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. This marked the first visit by a sitting Japanese defense minister in two years. The ministry's international policy director expressed deep regret over the visit.

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We strongly urge Japan's responsible leaders to face history squarely and demonstrate a humble reflection and sincere remorse for past wrongdoings through their actions.

Meanwhile, on August 15, which is both South Korea's Liberation Day and Japan's V-J Day, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated, "We will ensure that the horrors of war are never repeated." However, he notably omitted any mention of 'reflection' or 'a pledge not to wage war.' Instead of visiting the shrine himself, Kishida, in his capacity as Liberal Democratic Party president, sent ritual money through Secretary-General Toshimitsu Suzuki, who led a group of party officials in a collective visit to the shrine.

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We will ensure that the horrors of war are never repeated.