Kyodo News made a correction regarding a previous article stating that Akiko Ikuina, who serves as a parliamentary vice foreign minister, visited the Yasukuni Shrine in 2022. This report had significant implications, contributing to diplomatic tensions between Japan and South Korea. On November 25, the news agency recognized that its initial story could have had a detrimental effect on the relations between these two nations.

The context of this mistake unfolded when South Korea decided to boycott a memorial held on Sado Island for workers who perished in gold mines during World War II. These mines, where numerous laborers from the Korean Peninsula were employed, were recently designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead and includes 14 Class-A war criminals, is regarded by South Korea as a representation of Japan’s militaristic past.

In a statement from Naoto Takahashi, managing editor of Kyodo News, the agency expressed deep regret for the confusion caused not only to Ikuina but also to local officials and the general public. He mentioned that Kyodo News would reevaluate its reporting processes to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future. The corrected article acknowledged that reporters covering a lawmakers' event at the shrine had incorrectly identified Ikuina being there on August 15, 2022, without having interviewed her about the matter.

After Ikuina informed various media outlets that she did not visit Yasukuni Shrine, Kyodo News investigated the circumstances surrounding the report. They determined that their journalists had mistakenly identified another person as Ikuina. In light of her denial, as well as confirmations from fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, the agency reached the conclusion that the allegation was unfounded.

On November 26, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi indicated that the Japanese government intended to request explanations from Kyodo News regarding the erroneous article and acknowledged the confusion it created concerning the memorial ceremony. Ikuina reaffirmed to The Asahi Shimbun that she had not visited the shrine on that date, and the Foreign Ministry confirmed that since her election to the Upper House, she had not visited there at all.

In a separate but related development, South Korea organized a memorial for the Korean laborers on November 25, which saw attendance from about 30 individuals, including the South Korean ambassador to Japan and family members of the late workers. Although South Korea acknowledged the correction made by Kyodo News, it clarified that concerns over Yasukuni Shrine were not the only reasons behind its absence from the memorial, citing the tone of a Japanese speech as a significant factor that clashed with previously established agreements between the two countries regarding the recognition of the laborers' plight.