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South Korean Lawmakers Want Japanese Ambassador Out
A group of South Korean lawmakers want Japan's ambassador thrown out as a protest against history books critics say gloss over Japanese wartime atrocities, local television reported on Sunday.
Some 25 lawmakers from the ruling Millennium Democratic Party and opposition parties said the embassy should be closed to make Japan realise the extent of the crimes committed by its soldiers in World War Two, YTN TV reported.
Foreign ministry officials have said Japan was expected to deliver the final results of its review of the junior high school history textbooks on Monday and they don't expect them to have agreed to the changes demanded by China and South Korea.
If this is the case, YTN TV said South Korea was expected to announce various measures against Tokyo, including delaying opening its market to various Japanese products.
On Saturday, Seoul's foreign ministry said the government would continue to push Japan to make changes to the books, adding if Tokyo refused to cooperate this would seriously hurt Korea-Japan relations.
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was expected to turn down a request for a meeting with officials from Japan's three ruling coalition parties, local media reported.
Spokesmen at the presidential office and foreign ministry were unable to confirm the report.
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