YONHAP NEWS

(2nd LD) President expresses condolences over deaths of Japanese tourists in Busan fire

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak again expressed his regrets to Japan's prime minister Monday over the deaths of seven Japanese tourists in a fire that broke out last week at a shooting range in Busan, Lee's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.

   The president first expressed his grief and condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama when they met over the weekend at the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Singapore, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Sun-kyoo.

   "I once again express my deep regrets over Japanese casualties in the recent fire at an indoor shooting range in Busan, and I offer my sincere condolences from the bottom of my heart to the families of the victims," Lee said in a letter to the Japanese prime minister, which was released to the press in Seoul.

   The South Korean president also promised his support to the Japanese government and the bereaved families.

   The fire broke out Saturday in the port city, a favorite tourist destination for Japanese tourists. Initial reports said the fire killed 10 people, including eight Japanese tourists, but the police on Monday corrected the number of Japanese victims to seven.

   In a weekly meeting with his top aides held earlier in the day, Lee said the accident should be a lesson for the country to raise its overall safety awareness.

   "Safety regulations must be observed if we are to develop our country into an advanced nation as we now are trying to do," the president was quoted as saying by the Cheong Wa Dae spokesman.

   The president has also ordered a thorough investigation to find out the exact cause of the accident, saying that was the only way to bring some comfort to the bereaved families of the victims, according to Park.

   South Korea's foreign ministry expressed condolences to the families of the Japanese victims and promised full cooperation in handling the aftermath of the incident.

   "It is heartbreaking that many Japanese nationals, along with South Koreans, died and were injured due to the fire," ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said in a statement. "We express deep condolences to the victims and their families."

   Moon said his ministry has set up a task force to support medical treatment and other assistance for the injured.

   bdk@yna.co.kr
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