Park Ji-won "Offering tribute at Yasukuni before visiting Korea... It's a provocation"

"Will the Economy Revive if We Cut Ties with China and Russia?"

As Japanese Prime Minister Kishida prepares to visit South Korea, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won criticized the offering of tribute at Japan's Yasukuni Shrine on the 21st, calling it "a way to deceive the Korean people."

On the 21st, Park said on YTN's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' program, "There have been offerings made at places where war criminals are enshrined in the past, but this time, since Prime Minister Kishida's visit to Korea has already been announced, making such offerings that will provoke the entire Asian region just before the visit is a way to deceive the people of the Republic of Korea."

Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won attended the "Press Conference on the West Sea Public Official Shooting Incident and the Expulsion of Heinous Criminals" held at the National Assembly on the 27th and was lost in thought during the conference. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

He added, "The question is why now? Just when he says 'I am visiting Korea this time,' as if he is bestowing charity, why do something that deceives us? That is the problem," and continued, "Overall, President Yoon Seok-yeol's diplomacy is heading toward complete failure, focusing solely on the United States and Japan."

He raised his voice, saying, "We are completely cutting ties with China and Russia, our biggest economic partners. Can the economy revive under these circumstances?"

Park said, "What should be worked on diligently are the right things, but currently, President Yoon is surrendering 100% to Japan and 100% to the United States," adding, "Diplomacy should always serve national interests, but following Japan and the U.S. while harming national interests is dependent diplomacy."

He emphasized that by alienating China and Russia, national interests are being damaged. He said, "I repeat, we used to be China's largest trading partner, the number one country, but despite the serious crisis caused by the war between China and Taiwan, Taiwan has become the number one trading partner with China," and added, "What about the money owed by Russia and the companies we have invested in there? Also, won't it be difficult to import crude oil, natural gas, and grains in the future?"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.