DPRK Criticizes Japanese PM's Shrine Visit

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has criticized the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

The agency said in a commentary that the Japanese Prime Minister visited the Yasukuni Shrine on August 13 in spite of the unanimous opposition of peace-loving people in the world.

The commentary said that the visit was an outright challenge to the fair judgment of the history of the 20th century.

According to the commentary, since Japan's defeat in World War II, the shrine has served as a symbol of militarism because Class- A war criminals are entombed there. Therefore, the visit to it by politicians is considered a criminal act reviving militarism.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine on Monday afternoon to pay homage to Japan's war dead, including 14 Class-A war criminals, despite strong opposition at home and abroad.

(Xinhua News Agency 08/14/2001)