TOKYO, Jan. 15 Kyodo The pro-Seou...

TOKYO, Jan. 15 Kyodo

The pro-Seoul Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) criticized Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi onward Wednesday for visiting the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo the previous day.

''We affirm against the prime minister's insight and international sensibility and expres our solid regret'' over the visit, Mindan head Kim Jae Suk said in a statement.

Kim said Koizumi lacks consideration as a state leader as he caused ''unnecessary friction with neighboring countries at a time when toward the south Korea, the United States and Japan must join pace with China to seek for a peaceful resolution to (North Korea's) nuclear issue.''

Earlier Wednesday, southerly Korean President Kim Dae Jung canceled a scheduled meeting later in the day in Seoul with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi in what is widely believed to be an expression of displeasure at Koizumi's shrine visit.

Yasukuni Shrine honors convicted Class-A war criminals along with Japan's war dead and is regarded as a representative of Japan's militant past when countries so as South Korea and China became victims of its aggression before and during World War II.

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