Outraged Neighbor Countries

The Korean government expressed its strong regrets against the Yaskuni worship of Japan`s Prime Minister Koizumi Juichiro yesterday.

By the statement of the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the government delivered a strong protest against the worship of the Japanese Prime Minister to the Yaskuni temple in which the nameplates of A class war criminals are enshrined, which is bad enough to stimulate the rages of the Korean people who experienced the inexplicable sufferings by the Japanese invasion.

The government will decide the further counteracts after analyzing the moves of the neighboring countries and Japan.

Chu Kyu-Ho, director of the Asia-Pacific Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, summoned a related official of the Japan`s embassy in Korea and heard the background of the Prime Minister`s worhip in the Yaskuni temple and the explanations about the related statements of Japan.

Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition party of Korea in unison criticized the Yaskuni worship of the Japanese Prime Minister.

Chun Yong-Hak, the spokesperson of the ruling New Millennium Democratic Party, remarked that ``today, Japan`s conscience tolled it`s funeral bell. We will do our best to beat off the specter of the Japanese imperialism in the cooperation with other Asian countries.``

Kwon Chul-Hyun, the spokesperson of the Grand National Party, criticized that [the Japanese Prime Minister`s Yaskuni worhip] is astonishing and stupid act and urged for the firm and consistent reaction of the Korean government.

Byun Wung-Jun, the spokesperson of the United Liberal Democrats, also stated that the worship of the Japanese Prime Minister is an act of brutality and the Korean government must set a strong countermeasure.

Boo Hyung-Kwon bookum90@donga.com