On the 25th, the official newspaper of the workers’Party of Korea, Rodong Sinmun, published an article with the headline“A farce of worship advocating militarism.” Condemns the offering of sacrifices to the Yasukuni shrine by Japanese Prime Minister Masamumi Takashi and the collective visits to the shrine by leading politicians, criticizing the move as“A stark distortion of history and a challenge to international justice and peace”.
The article pointed out that the Yasukuni shrine honors aggressors and war criminals who have brought unbearable misfortune and suffering that can never be healed to other countries and peoples.
The article holds that“The issue of Yasukuni Shrine visit is a touchstone to judge how Japan treats the attitude and position of the history of aggression.”
According to the article, right-wing conservative politicians in Japan routinely visit the Yasukuni Shrine every year on such occasions as the so-called spring festival and make offerings, and attempt to institutionalize and traditionalize them, the aim is to instil in the nation a sense that war criminals are“Patriots” who must finish what they started. Not only does he show no remorse for the crimes committed in the past, but he inculcates the idea of revenge and creates a social atmosphere conducive to the revival of militarism and a plot to re-invade.
The article said that by visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, the Japanese government continued to spread militarism to society, while shamelessly distorting history, and building a war state to remove legal obstacles and strengthen the military.
The article points out that the international community is keeping a keen eye on the trend of the right-wing forces in Japan who are trying to repeat the mistakes of war criminals who have brought great suffering to mankind and accelerate militarization. The article concludes by emphasizing that rather than harboring unrealized illusions, Japan should honestly reflect on its sinful past and embark on a path of rehabilitation.