hankyoreh

A Tokyo court on Thursday ruled against a South Korean man who had filed a suit against a Japanese shrine, which honors him together with convicted World War II criminals even though he is alive.
The 86-year-old Kim Hui-jong, whose other personal information was withheld, took the legal action in 2007 against the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo and the Japanese government, demanding his name be removed from the shrine’s nameplate.
The Yasukuni Shrine honors a number of convicted World War II criminals and has frequently made headlines, as Japanese leaders regularly visit there, triggering concern among South Koreans that Japan is not remorseful about its past atrocities that were committed during its 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula.
“Putting his memorial tablet at the shrine was an unavoidable mistake,” a presiding judge of the Tokyo District Court said in a ruling.
On Thursday, the court also rejected actions filed by bereaved South Korean families of nine World War II victims, who have demanded their deceased members be eliminated from the shrine.
“The ruling is the worst ever, and I feel ashamed as a Japanese citizen,” an attorney for the plaintiffs said. “Judges seem to have no idea about what Japan should repent of, while putting priority only on the freedom of religion.”　
(Yonhap News)
　
Nominee for US Ambassador to S.Korea says he will draw on experience, expertise to better relations between Seoul & Washington
The nominee to become the new US ambassador to South Korea says if confirmed, he will draw on his experience and expertise to expand and enhance the bond between Seoul and Washington.
Speaking at a hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday Sung Kim noted that having dedicated much of his professional life as a career diplomat to the partnership between the two countries, he will continue to work to make the alliance even more stronger and balanced.
On North Korea, the nominee expressed hopes to continue to contribute to South Korea and US’ common efforts to achieve verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner and better lives for the suffering people of North Korea.
(Arirang News)