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Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine, where Japanese war criminals are enshrined.
He then compared the Japanese who died in the war to the victims of the Ukrainian war, according to Correspondent Park Sang-jin in Tokyo.
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Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe appeared at Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese militarism.
I went to visit Yasukuni Shrine's spring ritual.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stepped down as prime minister in 2020 and attended the event again this year as he did last year.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he paid tribute to the spirits who died for the country.
He also compared those who died in the Pacific War to the victims of the Ukrainian crisis.
[Abe / Former Prime Minister of Japan: (In Ukraine) Many people are fighting with their lives to protect their country.
Keeping in mind that the country is being protected on noble sacrifices (I worshiped)]
While visiting the Yasukuni Shrine where Class A war criminals were enshrined, I compared Japan, which started the war at that time, to Ukraine, which had been invaded by Russia.
Although Prime Minister Kishida did not visit the shrine, he made a tribute in the name of 'Fumio Kishida instead of Prime Minister'.
Earlier, Prime Minister Kishida also made a tribute to the ceremony last fall.
Members of the Yasukuni Association, a gathering of legislators who transcend party backgrounds, are scheduled to attend a group visit tomorrow (the 22nd).
Our government says it is deeply disappointed and regretful that Japanese leaders made offerings or repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, where war criminals were enshrined.
(Video coverage: Han Cheol-min, Moon Hyun-jin)