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Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday paid his respects at Tokyo¡¯s controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors convicted war criminals among the island country¡¯s 2.5 million war dead. In response to Koizumi's fifth visit to the shrine since he took office in 2001, Korea is considering scrapping a summit planned for later this year.
After the visit, Koizumi told reporters he went in a private capacity and stressed his determination that Japan will never again instigate a war, adding Tokyo would move ahead while cherishing its relationships with all the nations of Asia.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda told a press conference the government accepted the visit ¡°as the prime minister¡¯s proper judgment.¡± At his inauguration, Koizumi pledged to visit the shrine annually and has done so on different dates every year.
Apparently in response, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday it is scrapping a bilateral summit scheduled for the end of the year. Since 2003, the two countries¡¯ leaders have held annual "shuttle summits" in each others¡¯ countries. Koizumi made the trip to Korea in June. There are now calls in the ruling party to stop the summits.
¡°Until now there had been discussion of the president¡¯s visit to Japan, but as of today, we can no longer say that we are looking into the possibility,¡± Choeng Wa Dae spokesman Kim Man-soo told reporters. ¡°That means there may be a change in the president's schedule.¡±
Kim called Koizumi¡¯s visit to the shrine ¡°most regrettable,¡± adding, ¡°The Japanese government should recognize the negative effect this move may have on the South Korea-Japan relationship and the maintenance of peace in Northeast Asia, and take responsibility for the possible outcome.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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