• published: 27 Dec 2013
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NEWSLINE AT NOON 12:00 (THIS IS THE TRANSCRIPT FOR ARIRANG NEWS THAT AIRED ON 27 Dec 2013- 12:00 KST.) Title: Headlines Coming up on this Friday edition of Newsline at Noon,... Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's controversial war shrine visit underlines his determination to make Japan a more powerful nation... but at the price of souring ties with its allies and neighbors. After talks to reach a compromise fail, the state-run rail operator KORAIL urges the union to end its 19-day strike, warning those not returning to work by midnight Friday will face disciplinary measures. The union says KORAIL must first abandon a plan to issue a license for an affiliate. Plus,... forecasting 3-point-9 percent growth next year, the Korean government outlines its economic goals for 2014, which includes creating new jobs and boosting domestic demand. These stories and more on Newsline at Noon. ed: mi, mark Title: 12 Newsline Title Title: Opening Thanks for joining us. You're watching Newsline at Noon. I'm Choi You-sun in Seoul. Good to have you with us,.... I'm Mark Broome. Title: Japanese PM Abe's visit to controversial war shrine angers Korea We begin with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's controversial visit to a war shrine... that honors Japan's war dead, including several Class-A war criminals. His surprise move... has infuriated Japan's neighbors, including Korea, which lodged a strong complaint. Han Da-eun reports. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe marked the anniversary of his first year in office by visiting the Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo on Thursday morning. It's the first time a sitting prime minister has visited the controversial site since Junichiro Koizumi's visit in 2006. The Yasukuni Shrine honors two-and-a-half million Japanese war dead,... including some convicted war criminals. Abe had previously steered clear of the shrine for fear of further damaging regional ties, choosing instead to send donations. But the possibility of a visit has always lingered... due to the prime minister's strong nationalism and hawkish foreign policies. Abe told reporters on his way out... that he was paying respects to those who sacrificed their lives for Japan, and that he had no intention of upsetting the people of Korea or China. He added that he hoped to have a chance to explain his actions to the leaders of both neighboring countries. Korea's Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong called Abe's behavior "anachronistic." "The Korean government can't help but express its deep regret and anger over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit, in defiance of the concerns of Japan's neighbors. The Yasukuni Shrine harbors war criminals and eulogizes Japan's imperialism." Yoo added Japan should acknowledge its past wrongdoing and build trust with its neighbors, starting with a sincere apology. Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun summoned Takashi Kurai, the deputy chief of the Japanese embassy in Seoul... to relay Seoul's concerns. Han Da-eun, Arirang News. Title: China, U.S. critical of Japanese PM's Yasukuni visit Prime Minister Abe's visit to the Yasukuni shrine has also deeply upset countries like China and United States. For more on the international reaction to Abe's visit,... here's our Shin Se-min . China and the U.S. have let their feelings be known about Prime Minister Abe's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. China - one of the major victims of Japan's wartime aggression - strongly condemned the visit... saying it glorified Japan's history of militaristic aggression. "What Abe has done is taking Japan to a dangerous direction. Lessons must be learned from history. The international community, including China, should step up their vigilance, and not allow Japan to retrace its historical steps." The United States, one of Japan's closest allies,... feels especially let down as Abe clearly ignored Secretary of State John Kerry AND Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's advice, during their visit to Japan in October... to avoid visiting the war shrine. Reiterating sentiments expressed by the U.S. embassy in Tokyo, the State Department said Washington was disappointed Abe had taken an action which would clearly have severe diplomatic consequences. Taiwan, once a Japanese colony, condemned Abe's visit, urging Tokyo to face facts and remember the lessons from history. The Yasukuni Shrine honors 2-point-5 million war dead... most of them soldiers, but it also includes several high-level officials executed for war crimes after World War II. Abe's visit has certainly pleased his conservative supporters at home... but it has undoubtedly worsened Tokyo's relations with its neighbors and its most important ally, the United States. Shin Se-min, Arirang News.