JAPAN

Roh raps Koizumi anew on Yasukuni

APEC talks start on note of friction

Compiled From Wire Reports

Nov 19, 2005

PUSAN, South Korea -- South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun told Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday that his visits to Yasukuni Shrine are among things the South Korean people deem 'totally unacceptable,' a South Korean official said.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='200' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='/images/photos2005/nn20051119a1a.jpg' WIDTH='200' HEIGHT='239'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi –

and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun meet Friday in Pusan, South Korea, at the APEC leaders' summit.

Roh said the visits represent "a challenge to South Korea" and are generating concern that Japan may be returning to its militaristic past, according to a Japanese official who briefed reporters separately.