South Korea

December 2005 | Risk Summary

Deteriorating relations between Seoul and Tokyo may make it difficult for their leaders to hold regular summits, according to South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon. South Korea was a victim of Japan’s past militarism, and officials have been outraged by visits of the Japanese prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, to the Yasukuni shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals. President Roh Moo-hyun was expected to travel to Japan in December, but Koizumi’s October visit to Yasukuni is likely to delay the trip, possibly affecting co-operation in other areas.

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