Japan calls it ‘regrettable’ South Korea skipped Sado mine memorial

Sado, Niigata Pref. –
A Japanese authorities spokesperson stated Monday it was “regrettable” that South Korea pulled out of a memorial ceremony Sunday to honor wartime labor victims who labored on the now-defunct gold mines on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, together with these from the Korean Peninsula.

Seoul is believed to take concern with media stories that Akiko Ikuina, parliamentary vice minister for overseas affairs who represented the Japanese authorities on the ceremony, has visited Tokyo’s war-related Yasukuni Shrine previously.

However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated, “There was no concern (with sending Ikuina to the ceremony). We acknowledge that Ikuina has not visited Yasukuni Shrine after changing into an Upper House member, and we defined the info to the South Korean aspect.”