Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura visited Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals were enshrined, Kyodo News reported on the morning of the 13th.
According to reports, Nishimura is the first Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to have confirmed that an incumbent minister visited the Yasukuni Shrine after the establishment of the Cabinet of Fumio Kishida in October of last year.
After the visit, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura told reporters, "In thinking of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, I have made a resolution to do everything I can for Japan's peace and development."
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura belonged to the Abe faction, the largest faction of the LDP, and was re-appointed as the cabinet at the time of the reshuffle on the 10th.
In response, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Our government expresses deep disappointment and regret for the visit of Japanese government officials to the Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's past wars of aggression and enshrined war criminals."
After the inauguration of the Kishida cabinet, there were ceremonies in the fall of last year and in the spring of this year.
At Yasukuni Shrine, 14 Class A war criminals of the Pacific War, including Hideki Tojo (1884-1948), are enshrined.
(Photo = Yonhap News)