TOKYO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday defended his visits to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, saying that the acts should not be blamed.

    "Why should one who pays visits with a sense of condolences for the war dead be criticized by foreign countries," Koizumi said at a House of Councilors Budget Committee session.

    The prime minister denied that the visits to the shrine, which honors 14 Class-A war criminals are attempts to glorify the aggression war. He also said that he could not understand why some Japanese people asked him not to visit the shrine.

    Koizumi has visited the shrine for five times since taking office in April 2001. His visits there have severely hurt the feelings of Asian people who suffered from atrocities by the Japanese aggression army before and during World War II and have drawn indignation and protests from China and South Korea. Enditem