Japan's Prime Minister Angers China, South Korea By Visiting Controversial Shinto War Shrine

Today Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe angered China and South Korea by visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, a Shinto shrine to the war dead including Japanese leaders who were convicted as war criminals at the end of World War II.  Reuters reports that today's visit was part of Abe's attempt to restore Japan's pride in its past and rewrite its wartime history. His visit, including a televised motorcade to the shrine, threatens to exacerbate longstanding strains in relations with China and South Korea.  Abe said however:

There is criticism based on the misconception that this is an act to worship war criminals, but I visited Yasukuni Shrine to report to the souls of the war dead on the progress made this year and to convey my resolve that people never again suffer the horrors of war.