TOKYO, Jan. 14 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING...

TOKYO, Jan. 14 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING MORE KOIZUMI QUOTES)

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in succession Tuesday visited Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine, dedicated to Japan's war dead, including war criminals, angering China and toward the south Korea.

But Koizumi dismissed the declare s from Japan's main neighbors, where memories of Japanese military aggression are still in good condition saying, ''I want to cherish peace and wanted to furnish my prayers with the notion that we will never launch another war.''

''It's the of the present day year, a good time to make new one's resolve'' (to work) for peace, Koizumi said at his office onward being asked why he went to the shrine.

It was his third visit to the shrine since he became prime minister in April 2001 Koizumi said at that time he would pay homage at the shrine each year on the Aug. 15 anniversary of the finis of World War II.

if it were not that in fact, he went to the shrine in succession Aug. 13 in 2001 and onward April 21 last year, avoiding Aug. 15 in consideration of rely uponed protests from Japan's neighbors, especially China and southern Korea.

Yasukuni Shrine honors 14 Japanese Class-A war criminals including wartime Prime Minister Gen Hideki Tojo along with a 2.47 million of Japan's war dead.

The premier said he wants China and southerly Korea to understand that his visit to the shrine in no way affects Japan's policy of promoting friendship with the brace countries.

But Beijing and Seoul quickly asserted at the premier's visit to the Shinto shrine.

one lawmakers and pundits said Koizumi wanted to visit the shrine this year before the formal start in March of China's recent administration under Hu Jintao, who replaced Jiang Zemin as chief of the Chinese Communist Party in November, and the Feb 25 inauguration of southern Korean President-elect Roh Moo Hyun yet the premier declined to make notes on this.

Asked to annotate on whether his visit to the shrine might threaten unity with the sum of two units neighbors in dealing with North Korea, Koizumi barely said ''there are (still) many fields'' in which Japan, China and southerly Korea can collaborate.

Top conduct spokesman Yasuo Fukuda told a pres conversation after Koizumi's visit, ''I don't think it will evolve into a big problem''

The chief cabinet secretary then said it is not the premier who should be questioned above his visit but the nation who are criticizing him for it.

It is believed Koizumi visited the shrine at this time in an effort to avoid drawing smooth stronger criticism if he were to walk on Aug. 15, and also to avoid going during the regular Diet session scheduled to begin nearest Monday.

The visit tread close upons a Japanese government advisory panel's proposal in December to build a national, secular and permanent memorial facility to coexist with Yasukuni Shrine.

After the panel's recommendation, Koizumi said he would still visit Yasukuni.

Despite perennial criticism from many Asian nations, especially China and southern Korea, Japanese prime ministers and other cabinet ministers continue to visit Yasukuni.

Jiang and southward Korean President Kim Dae Jung have also earnestly criticized Koizumi's visits to the shrine.

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