Seoul Denounces Ishiba’s Yasukuni Offering on WWII Surrender Anniversary

South Korea on Friday issued a formal statement expressing “deep disappointment and regret” after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a ritual offering to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine and several cabinet members visited the site on the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. The shrine honors 2.46 million Japanese war dead, including 14 convicted Class A war criminals, and visits by Japanese leaders have long strained ties with Seoul, which marks 15 August as Liberation Day from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule. Foreign-ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong urged Japanese leaders to “squarely face history” and demonstrate “genuine atonement” as a foundation for a future-oriented bilateral relationship. Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, along with former economic security ministers Sanae Takaichi and Takayuki Kobayashi, were among the lawmakers who paid their respects at the shrine, according to Japanese media. The protest comes ahead of President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to Tokyo on 23–24 August for talks with Ishiba, where both governments have signaled interest in deepening security and economic cooperation. A senior official in Seoul said the administration is monitoring Ishiba’s remarks of “remorse” delivered earlier in the day and hopes the two neighbors can continue efforts to rebuild trust.