South Korea shows its “deep disappointment” over the offering sent by Kishida to the Yasukuni Shrine

The controversial sanctuary, located in Tokyo, also receives a visit from a Japanese minister during the day.

April 21 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Government of South Korea has expressed this Sunday its “deep disappointment” with the ritual offering sent by the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, to the Yasukuni Shrine, in Tokyo, where tribute is paid to the soldiers killed during the imperialist wars. from the first half of the 20th century, including several war criminals.

“The Government expresses its deep disappointment and regrets that Japanese leaders have once again made offerings and visited the Yasukuni Mausoleum, which praises Japan's past wars of aggression and houses war criminals,” the South Korean Foreign Ministry said through from a statement published on its website.

Thus, he has called on the Japanese authorities to “face history and show a humble and true reflection on the past through actions.” “We emphasize again that this is an important pillar for the development of future-oriented relations between South Korea and Japan,” she concluded.

Hours before, Kishida had sent an offering to the controversial sanctuary, which also received a visit during the day from the Minister of Economic Revitalization, Yoshitaka Shindo, according to the Japanese news agency Kiodo. “I have paid my respects to the spirits of those who put their hearts and souls into working for the country,” Shindo said.

The Japanese prime minister had already made an offering to the shrine in October 2023, in that case on the occasion of the autumn festival of the Shinto shrine, although until now he has avoided going to the place to avoid criticism and tensions in this regard, especially with countries such as South Korea or China.

The Shinto shrine pays tribute to the 2.5 million Japanese dead in the wars of the first half of the 20th century, including fourteen war criminals executed for their crimes at the end of World War II.