Dozens of Japanese lawmakers visit wartime shrine amid South Korea's opposition
Prime minister Shigeru Ishiba also sent ritual offering to war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo
ANKARA
A group of Japanese lawmakers visited a controversial shrine in Tokyo Tuesday during a three-day spring festival, despite opposition from South Korea, according to local media reports.
Around 70 lawmakers from various political parties paid a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Kyodo News reported.
Yasukuni shrine was constructed in commemoration of the 2.5 million people who died serving the Emperor of Japan from 1867–1951, including 14 convicted war criminals from World War II.
"We should never forget the history of how the spirits of many fallen heroes laid the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous Japan after the war," said Ichiro Aisawa, a lawmaker from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also sent a ritual offering to the war-linked Yasukuni shrine on Monday.
On Tuesday, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep regret” over the prime minister’s offering and the lawmakers’ visit.
"The government of the Republic of Korea expresses deep disappointment and regret over the fact that responsible leaders of Japan have once again sent offerings to and paid respects at the Yasukuni Shrine which glorifies Japan’s war of aggression and enshrines war criminals," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry urged Japanese leaders to "squarely face history and demonstrate through action their humble reflection and sincere remorse for Japan’s past history."
"This is an important foundation for the development of future-oriented relations between the two countries based on mutual trust," it said.
The shrine has long been a source of diplomatic tension between Japan and its neighbors, particularly South Korea and China, which view visits as a sign of Japan’s failure to fully acknowledge its wartime past.
Japan colonized the Korean Peninsula before World War II and launched a military invasion of China.
Conservative Japanese politicians have faced criticism for allegedly downplaying previous government statements of remorse.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid
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