Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi today made a pilgrimage to a Tokyo war shrine reviled by critics as a symbol of militarism, triggering a further erosion in Japan’s ties with its neighbours just a month before he leaves office.

Japan will decide whether to withdraw its 600 troops from Iraq after the Middle Eastern country’s constitutional referendum and possible follow-up elections, the Foreign Ministry said today.

Japan’s Cabinet today approved a plan to keep Japanese troops in Iraq for another year.

The three Japanese civilians taken hostage in Iraq have faced a whirlwind of criticism since returning home, it emerged today.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il today admitted that spies from his country kidnapped Japanese citizens decades ago, and said at least four are still alive.