Early Edition 18:00 (THIS IS THE TRANSCRIPT FOR ARIRANG NEWS THAT AIRED ON 26 Dec 2013- 18:00 KST.) Title: HEADLINES On our newscast tonight... Since 2006,... many Japanese prime ministers have come and gone. And they all had one thing in common: they avoided visiting the controversial Yasukuni War Shrine, for fear of straining relations with Korea and China. But Shinzo Abe stands alone. Two big questions immediately follow the controversial trip by the Japanese leader. Why did he go ahead with the visit, and how will it impact Korea-Japan relations? We turn to an expert for insights. Eighteen days and counting. The nationwide rail strike carries on, but could a resolution be close at hand? The union's deputy leader sits down for talks at KORAIL headquarters. Stay with us for these stories and more. Title: Early Edition at 18 Title Title: Opening It is 4 a.m. in Washington,... 11 a.m. in Cairo,... and six p.m. on a Thursday evening here in Seoul. Welcome to Early Edition at Six... I'm Moon Conn-young. And I'm Daniel Choy. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially honors war criminals and upsets neighbors. Title: Japanese PM Shinzo Abe visits controversial Yasukuni war shrine Abe paid a visit to the highly controversial Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo on this Thursday morning. Korea and China have lodged strong complaints,... saying the move is an attempt to justify Japan's wartime atrocities. Our Han Da-eun starts us off. 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. The trip is certain to worsen Japan's already soured relations with Korea and China, both of which were quick to respond. 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. China's foreign ministry also condemned Abe's visit in a statement, while the U.S. expressed disappointment, saying it could escalate regional tensions. Han Da-eun, Arirang News.

• published: 27 Dec 2013
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