Japan shrine visit angers S Korea

It was the prime minister's fourth visit while in office

South Korea has summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest over a visit to a controversial war shrine by Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

The Foreign Ministry in Seoul said it was "deeply regrettable" that Mr Koizumi had visited the shrine.

The Yasukuni shrine honours 2.5 million Japanese who have died in conflicts since 1853, including a number of war criminals.

It was Mr Koizumi's fourth such visit since he took office in 2001.

Japan's ambassador in Seoul, Toshiyuki Takano, was summoned by South Korean Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan.

A Foreign Ministry statement said South Korea had strongly urged Mr Koizumi not to visit the shrine again.

The visit also prompted a rebuke from China, which summoned acting Japanese ambassador Harada Shikahito to make "solemn representations" over Thursday's visit.

China's Deputy Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed "righteous indignation" on behalf of the people of Asia and said the visit undermined the political basis of Sino-Japanese ties.

War crimes

Correspondents say Mr Koizumi's visits to the Yasukuni shrine are aimed at pleasing the conservative wing of his Liberal Democratic Party.

But they are opposed by China and other Asian countries which Japan invaded and occupied at the beginning of the 20th Century and during World War II.

Visits to the Yasukuni shrine always cause a storm

The BBC's Charles Scanlon in Seoul says the shrine is seen by critics as a monument to Japanese militarism.

Among those honoured by the shrine are Japan's wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who was hanged for war crimes in 1948.

Earlier, responding to questions about possible criticism from Japan's neighbours, Mr Koizumi said: "One does not comment about another country's respect of its history, traditions or customs."

A crowd of New Year revellers were at the shrine on Thursday when the prime minister arrived in a black, wearing the long pleated trousers of a traditional, formal costume.

He waved at them as they shouted New Year greetings, while he was led up the steps by a Shinto priest in white robes.

"I feel refreshed," he said, after his visit to the shrine.