The South Korean government urges Japanese leaders to face up to history and reflect on the past

China News Service, Seoul, October 17 (Reporter Kim Wook) The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 17th local time that the South Korean government once again expressed its deep disappointment and regret that Japanese high-level officials offered sacrifices to and visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines World War II Class-A war criminals, that day.

Japan's Yasukuni Shrine will hold a three-day autumn festival starting from the 17th. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the South Korean government urges Japanese high-level officials to face up to history and show humility and sincere reflection on history with practical actions. The South Korean government once again emphasized that this is an important cornerstone for building a future-oriented South Korea-Japan relationship based on mutual trust between countries and people of the two countries.

According to Japanese media reports, Japan’s Minister of Economic and Fiscal Policy Minoru Castle visited the Yasukuni Shrine on the morning of the 17th. On the same day, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, in the name of "Cabinet Prime Minister", offered a sacrifice called "Masakaki" to the Yasukuni Shrine. However, relevant analysts said that Takaichi Sanae is not expected to visit the shrine during the festival. In addition, many politicians, including Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Mori Eisuke and Senate Speaker Shoichi Sekiguchi, also made offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine.

The Yasukuni Shrine is located in Chiyoda District, Tokyo. The shrine enshrines 14 World War II Class-A war criminals, including Tojo Hideki. For a long time, some Japanese politicians have insisted on visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, which has been strongly opposed by many peace-loving people in Japan and the international community.