Rodong Sinmun Monday says in a commentary in this regard:

It is absurd sophism for the Japanese authorities to claim that they honored the memory of fallen fighters and the visit to the shrine would continue in the future, too, as Japan wishes for world peace.

The Japanese authorities' attitude toward the issue of the shrine is a touchstone to distinguish whether Japan stands for a war or peace.

The shrine serves as what embellishes a war of aggression.

Entombed in the shrine are memorial tablets of top-class Second World War criminals. Therefore, their visit to it cannot but be construed otherwise than an attempt to embellish a war for aggression.

If Japan truly wants peace, it should properly understand the history of militarist aggression, seriously reflect on it and draw the line of distinction to break with militarism.

However, Japan is pushing ahead with its moves to turn it into a militarist and war state in real earnest.

The Japanese chief executive kicked off a strong wind of militarism at the outset of the year, vociferating that a battle has started now to regain the position of "strong Japan."

The Japanese reactionaries are seeking to hurl Japanese armed with the idea of militarism into overseas aggression by stirring up the fever of militarism through visits to the shrine.

They are, however, seriously mistaken. If Japan rushes headlong into the lurch to the Right, intoxicated with scent of the revival of militarism, it will not be able to escape another miserable defeat.