Beijing, Seoul Condemn Koizumi’s Shrine Visit
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The governments of China and South Korea denounced Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s trip to a war shrine.
The Yasukuni shrine honors about 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including war criminals.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “Our government expresses deep regret toward Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi’s visit to the Yasukuni shrine, which represents Japan’s militarism.”
Meanwhile, China summoned Japan’s ambassador to Beijing to receive a formal protest.
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