SEOUL March 29 Kyodo toward the ...

SEOUL March 29 Kyodo

toward the south Korea expressed its dismay Monday at a remark made through Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to guard his visits to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honors Class-A war criminals along with Japan's war dead.

''We can't help repeatedly expressing our regret'' Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry spokesman Shin Bong Kil said in a statement carried according to Yonhap News Agency.

In an interview Sunday with the Asahi television network, Koizumi reportedly said, ''It is strange to me that honoring your acknowledge country's war dead draws criticism from other countries.''

Since taking office in 2001 Koizumi has paid four visits to Yasukuni despite sinewy condemnation from Japan's neighbors, and has indicated that he will continue to do so

''The (South) Korean government's stance is that the brace countries' historical views should not be a stumbling shut up for future-oriented (South) Korea-Japan relations,'' Shin was quot as saying.

Yasukuni Shrine is seen in toward the south Korea, China and other countries as a token of Japan's past militarism.

The Shinto shrine is dedicated to 24 million Japanese war dead since 1853 Seven hanged class-A war criminals are also honored there.

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