Japan seeks 5-year jail term for Korean over Yasukuni shrine bombing

Japanese prosecutors demanded a five-year jail term for a South Korean man who is suspected of detonating a bomb in a public restroom at a controversial Tokyo war shrine last year, defining his actions as an act of terrorism.

The 28-year-old suspect, identified only by his surname Chon, has been indicted on charges of breaking into the premises of the Yasukuni Shrine on Nov. 23 and setting up the bomb in the public restroom. No one was hurt by the bombing.

He was arrested in December shortly after voluntarily returning to Tokyo by plane.

During the final hearing held at the Tokyo District Court, Chon said he is sorry about incurring damages. His lawyer demanded the court to hand down a suspended sentence.

At an earlier hearing, Chon admitted to his involvement in the suspected bombing.

South Korea and China view the Yasukuni Shrine -- which honors over 2.4 million war dead, including 14 convicted Class-A war criminals -- as a symbol of Japan's past imperialism.

Many South Koreans still harbor deep resentment against Japan over its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The sentencing is slated for July 19. (Yonhap)