Korea Will Request for Returning Of Korean Mortuary Tablets

Responding to the request of the bereaved members of the `Association of the Pacific War Victims for Just Compensation` for the return of the Korean victims` mortuary tablets in the Yaskuni temple, the Korean government will make an official request to Japan.

A government officials remarked yesterday, ``the position of the bereaved is fully understandable that the Korean victims cannot be paid a tribute in memory of them with the A class war criminals in the same place.``

The official also added that ``there exists no individual mortuary tablets. Hence, the core issue is to erase all the names of the Korean victims in the Yaskuni temple.``

The purpose of the prompt response of the government is to increase the pressure to Japan`s Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro, who is pushing ahead with the plan to pay reverence at the Yaskuni temple on Aug. 15.

However, the Japanese government is expected to express its difficulty of the intervention in the activity of the Yaskuni temple because it is an independent religious corporation. Consequently, another diplomatic clash is anticipated on this issue.

Boo Hyung-Kwon bookum90@donga.com