Special Report: Koizumi's war shrine visit draws harsh criticism

    BEIJING, Aug 16 -- The South Korean Foreign Ministry has also expressed both deep disappointment and anger at Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. This has also been echoed by the Australian Foreign Minister.

    The South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned Japan's ambassador today to convey an official protest to Tokyo. South Korea is urging Japanese leaders to recognize the negative impact of visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. This, they believe, would demonstrate a commitment to regional peace.

    The nation will also send its ambassador in Tokyo on a protest visit to Japan's foreign ministry.

    South Korean foreign ministry spokesman Choo Kyu-ho said:"We express our deep disappointment and anger over another visit to the Yasukuni shrine on August the 15th, a shrine which glorifies and justifies Japan's militarist regime and history of invasion."

    "Prime Minister Koizumi has blocked South Korea-Japan ties and damaged friendly and co-operative relations in Northeast Asia by visiting the Yasukuni shrine out of a nationalistic position."

    Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer held talks with his South Korean counterpart, Ban Ki-moon, in Canberra. Downer said he had spoken to Koizumi about the visits during a recent trip to Japan.

    He suggested that Japanese politicians respect the feelings of the international community by discontinuing their controversial visits to the shrine.

(Source: CCTV.com)

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