The chief priest of the Buddhist temple that won the bid to acquire the Tokyo headquarters of the pro-Pyongyang group Chongryon said Friday he has failed to gather enough funds for the purchase, suggesting financial institutions were pressured not to extend loans to his temple.
"Today, Saifukuji has decided to give up the acquisition of the Chongryon building, which we won the bid for," Ekan Ikeguchi, who heads Saifukuji Temple in Kagoshima Prefecture, told reporters.
Igekuchi added that he was advised by financial institutions, experts on Asia diplomacy and many others over the purchase but said he regretted not being able to seal the deal due to his own shortcomings.