THE South Korean President, Roh Moo Hyun, demanded action yesterday to remedy the growing rift between Japan and its neighbours.

Mr Roh told Junichiro Koizumi, the Japanese Prime Minister, that he was not interested in more apologies or national reparations so much as an end to Mr Koizumi’s visits to the nationalist Yasukuni Shrine,which honours Japan’s war dead.

“When we say we don’t call on Japan to apologise any more, it means actions are what is important, rather than apologies,” Mr Roh’s foreign policy adviser said. “The Prime Minister’s visits (to Yasukuni), are a challenge to South Korea and give the feeling that Japan may be returning to the past.”

Mr Roh also wanted textbooks amended to address inaccuracies about Japan’s role in the Second World War.

The leaders met at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in the South Korean city of Pusan, where police turned water hoses on several thousand protesters who marched on the conference venue.

The summit, which brings together 21 economies, including the US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, the South-East Asian nations and Australia, is intended to promote economic convergence. But since Mr Koizumi’s most recent visit to Yasukuni Japan finds itself isolated.

“The visits of you, Prime Minister, to Yasukuni Shrine as well as recent visits there by many politicians, are a provocation to South Korea,” Mr Roh was said to have told Mr Koizumi, after grudgingly agreeing to meet him out of courtesy.

At the opening session, Mr Roh accepted Mr Koizumi’s handshake hesitantly before the two turned and managed strained smiles for the cameras. President Hu Jintao of China declined to meet him, but Mr Koizumi maintained an optimistic façade. “Everyone’s worried about Japan-China relations,” he said. “I’m not. There’s never been an age like this when our connections in economics, culture, sports and travel have been as deep.

“We don’t mean to gloss over or justify the past or glorify the war. That’s a misunderstanding.” He added that by visiting the shrine he was honouring the dead in a traditional Japanese way.

“I’m fully aware of the importance of friendship between Japan and South Korea. Although there are differences in opinions, our position of promoting friendship has been unchanged.”

Japan’s isolation is likely to become more obvious over the weekend when Mr Koizumi meets President Putin. Japan has a long-running dispute with Russia over the Kuril Islands, seized by the former USSR after Japan’s surrender.

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