Yasukuni Shrine is a symbol of Japanese militarism where the departed souls of the top-class war criminals still linger. The war criminals were punished by history for their engagement in the war of aggression and plunder, the statement said, and went on:

What is sought by the Japanese politicians by making the visit to Yasukuni Shrine an organized and an annual one is to intoxicate the Japanese nationals with the militarist toxin and to realize at any cost their failed old dream of the "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere".

The recent visit clearly shows again that they have no idea of making repentance or apology for the past crimes of aggression but are only keen on turning back history and launching overseas aggression.

The Association strongly denounces the group visit to the shrine by the Japanese politicians as an all-out challenge to justice, peace and human rights and a hideous crime against humanity that insults the victims of the past and their bereaved families.

The statement urged the Japanese politicians who challenged the needs of the world people and the trend of the times through the visit to come out for the atonement of the past as early as possible, not adding more crimes to what their predecessors had already committed against the Korean people.