Japan will send more officials to the US in attempt to defend Abe's shrine visit

A global diplomatic campaign launched by Tokyo to justify Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine is likely to worsen ties with neighboring countries, according to analysts.

Shotaro Yachi, director of Japan's National Security Council's Secretariat, will visit the US from Friday to heal a rift in the US-Japan alliance and to justify Abe's Dec 26 visit to the shrine, which honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals, Japan's Jiji news agency reported.