SEOUL — The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing "deep regret" over recent visits and offerings made to Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese political leaders, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The shrine is controversial due to its association with Japan's militaristic past and World War II war criminals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the actions of Japanese leaders, including Defense Minister Minoru Kihara's visit — the first by a sitting defense minister in three years — directly contradict efforts to foster future-oriented relations between Japan and South Korea. The shrine honors Japanese war dead, including 14 Class A criminals convicted after the war, and is seen by many in Asia as a symbol of Japan's past aggression.
The South Korean government has called on Japanese leaders to reflect genuinely and repentantly on their historical actions. In response to the visits, Seoul's foreign ministry has taken diplomatic steps, including summoning the deputy chief of mission from the Japanese Embassy in Seoul and a defense attaché, to express its strong disapproval.