North Korea has strongly condemned recent Yasukuni Shrine offerings made by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other lawmakers. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released a commentary on Saturday, accusing Japan of fueling militarization through these actions.
Last week, Ishiba sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, sparking outrage across neighboring countries. The shrine honors Japanese war dead, including 14 convicted Class A war criminals from World War II. Additionally, a bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers visited the shrine to pay their respects, further intensifying the controversy.
According to KCNA, these Yasukuni Shrine offerings symbolize Japan’s continued push towards militarization. The agency warned that such actions would only speed up the downfall of Japan as a nation. North Korea also accused Japanese leaders of trying to normalize annual visits and offerings, portraying it as an attempt to deeply root militarism across the country.
Moreover, KCNA claimed Japan has entered the final stage of preparing for a continental invasion. It pointed to Japan’s recent launch of the Self-Defense Forces Joint Operation Command and its moves to revise the Constitution. These developments, according to KCNA, reflect a systematic and wide-ranging plan for political and military rearmament.
KCNA stressed that the revision and rearmament of Japan are becoming a reality, not just a prediction. They argued that the repeated Yasukuni Shrine offerings play a central role in this troubling agenda. The agency criticized the shrine as the origin of efforts to implant militaristic ideology throughout Japan.
Regional tension continues to rise because neighboring countries like South Korea and China also oppose the Yasukuni Shrine offerings. Both nations view these actions as attempts to whitewash Japan’s militaristic past. South Korea and China still remember Japan’s invasions and colonial rule during the early 20th century.
Japan’s occupation of Korea lasted from 1910 to 1945, leaving a painful legacy that persists today. Additionally, Japan invaded large parts of China during World War II, causing deep historical wounds. As tensions escalate, North Korea’s latest criticism further highlights the sensitivity surrounding Yasukuni Shrine offerings.
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