SEOUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea criticized Japan over visits to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese leaders and lawmakers, the local media reported.
A government spokesman made the remarks Tuesday in a briefing one day after South Korea shelved a proposed trip by Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se to Tokyo in protest.
Cho Tai-young, the spokesman, expressed deeply concern and regret over Japanese leaders'visit to worship the shrine. " Yasukuni Shrine which honors Japanese leading World War II war criminals is a place to glorify Japan's aggressive war," he said.
"The Japanese government should make introspection that why South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se called off a planned visit to Japan and what did the people of victimized countries feel about the Yasukuni Shrine visit," the spokesman said.
Despite strong protests from neighboring countries, a group of 169 Japanese lawmakers on Tuesday visited the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, which honors convicted war criminals together with the country's war dead during World War II.
Local villagers climb mountains to get relief supplies