1. The government of the Republic of Korea deeply regrets that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited 
Yasukuni Shrine, on August 13, 2001, a symbol of past Japanese militarism, in spite of continued 
expression of concern by the ROK government and strong opposition within Japan. 

2. Prime Minister Koizumi insists in his statement that the purpose of his visit to Yasukuni Shrine is to 
commemorate the victims who sacrificed their lives for Japan and to recapitulate his commitment to 
promoting peace, while expressing his regrets for Japan's past colonial rule and aggression. However, the 
ROK government can not refrain from expressing a deep concern that the Japanese prime minister paid 
respects to even war criminals who destroyed world peace and inflicted indescribable damage to the 
neighboring countries. 

3. If Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is willing to cultivate genuine friendship and cooperation with the 
neighboring states, we reiterate that he should respect the positions and national sentiments of the 
countries concerned based on a correct understanding of history. 


                                                              Spokesperson of MOFAT

* unofficial translation