April 24, 2002	Wednesday	Safar 10, 1423

TOKYO, April 23: Backing angry words with deeds, China on Tuesday postponed a visit by Japan’s defence minister to vent its ire after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited a shrine where war criminals are honoured along with war dead.

The move could seriously damage relations between the two giant Asian neighbours in a year that marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties.

A Japanese defence ministry spokesman said China had conveyed a wish to postpone the visit of Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, scheduled to start on Saturday. Beijing also delayed a visit to Japan by Chinese naval vessels set for next month, the first such visit ever.

“There is no mistake, they will both be postponed,” the spokesman said.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman confirmed the delay was linked to Koizumi’s surprise Sunday visit to Yasukuni Shrine.

“The Japanese leader’s visit to Yasukuni has hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and harmed Sino-Japanese relations,” he said.

“China believes it is not appropriate to hold these two activities at this time.”

The timing and quiet nature of Koizumi’s visit were aimed at preserving ties with countries such as China and soccer World Cup co-host South Korea, who object particularly strongly to visits on August 15, the anniversary of Japan’s World War Two defeat.

Visits to the shrine, a traditional wooden building with curving cedar-tiled roofs, by Japanese leaders have in the past sparked furious protests from Asian neighbours who suffered under Japan’s military aggression before and during World War Two.

ANGRY RESPONSE: North Korea joined its voice to the angry chorus on Tuesday when a Foreign Ministry spokesman slammed the visit as a “reckless deed” that aroused “astonishment and wrath”.

“Any visit to the Yasukuni shrine by the incumbent prime minister of Japan can never be pardoned regardless of its timing and form as it is little short of the Japanese government’s action to justify the past crimes of Japan,” the spokesman said in a statement released on the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

“The DPRK (North Korea) strongly denounces such reckless deeds as visits to the shrine by persons in high authority and other statesmen of Japan.”

However, 91 Japanese members of parliament, including Taku Yamasaki, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, followed Koizumi’s example on Tuesday and visited the shrine. Another 94 sent representatives in their place.

Aides to some lawmakers said this meant the politicians might not make the more controversial August visit. Others said this would not change their plans for an August 15 homage.

“Many of the people in this group go three times a year — in the spring, August, and the autumn,” one aide said.

GRISLY PROTEST: In Seoul, a group of former South Korean commandos hacked a squealing pig to death in the back of a van to protest against Koizumi’s visit.

Dozens of riot police surrounded the vehicle near the Japanese embassy so the ex-agents — who say they were trained to infiltrate North Korea — drew knives and repeatedly cut and stabbed the pig, which had the word “Koizumi” daubed on it.

Koizumi has said his latest visit was a prayer for peace and pledged to work to boost friendly ties with China and World Cup co-host South Korea after the two countries called in Tokyo’s ambassadors in protest.

Koizumi set off a diplomatic and domestic furore last year when he paid homage at the shrine two days before August 15, the first prime minister in five years to do so.—Reuters