Japan and the ROK-US-Japan triangle preoccupied the Korean media through the early autumn. Criticism of the Abe administration only intensified, but it came amid growing concern about whether further deterioration in ROK-Japan relations was advisable and, even more, how to respond to increasing military ties between Japan and the United States. There was no sign that Korean criticisms were altering the way Japanese officials and Diet members were dealing with historical issues. One commentary noted that the number of Shrine visits of Diet members from the group that visits the Yasukuni Shrine together had doubled or tripled (168 in April and 102 in August) compared to the 50-80 member visits in the past.

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