TOKYO, Jan 1: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited a controversial shrine honouring the country's war dead on Thursday, triggering instant condemnation from South Korea and China, both victims of Japan's militaristic past.

Since taking office in 2001, the nationalistic Koizumi has outraged Japan's Asian neighbours three times with previous visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, seen by many as a symbol of the militarist government that led Japan into war.

The shrine is dedicated to Japan's 2.5 million military war dead since 1853, including wartime prime minister Hideki Tojo and 13 other convicted "Class A" war criminals.

The visit comes shortly before Japan is expected to dispatch a large force of non-combat troops to Iraq in what may become its biggest, most dangerous military mission since World War Two.

A solemn Koizumi, dressed in a formal kimono and a black haori coat, bowed briefly as he entered the shrine. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi summoned Japan's charge d'affaires in Beijing to express "strong indignation", China Central Television said.

"China strongly condemns the act, which hurts the feelings of war victims," Mr Wang was quoted as saying. "If Japanese leaders continue to insist on visiting Yasukuni Shrine, it will hurt Japan's interests."

South Korea also denounced the visit. "We cannot but be concerned and angered," the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement on its website.Mr Koizumi went to the shrine last year too, but has never visited on New Year's Day.-Reuters