Seoul: South Korea has expressed “deep regret” following a recent gesture by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, a site that has long been a point of contention due to its association with Japan’s militaristic history.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean officials have voiced their disappointment after reports emerged that Prime Minister Ishiba participated in a ritual linked to the autumn festival at Yasukuni Shrine. This event marks Ishiba’s first such involvement with the shrine since assuming office on October 1. The Yasukuni Shrine is recognized for honoring Japan’s war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals from World War II, and is often seen by neighboring countries like South Korea and China as a symbol of Japan’s past military aggression.
“We express deep disappointment and regret that responsible leaders in Japan have once again offered tribute or visited the Yasukuni Shrine,” stated Lee Jae-woong, a spokesperson for the South
Korean Foreign Ministry. Lee urged the leadership of the new Japanese cabinet to “squarely face history and show through action humble reflection and genuine atonement for past wrongdoings.”
The South Korean spokesperson emphasized that Japan’s actions in connection with the shrine will significantly influence the development of future-oriented bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan. The ongoing controversy surrounding visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese officials has historically been a source of diplomatic tension between Japan and its neighbors, who view such actions as attempts to glorify militaristic elements of Japan’s history.