, Jan. 21 -- A Japanese court on Wednesday sentenced a man who admitted to assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to life imprisonment, a case that has drawn attention to long-standing ties between Japan's ruling party and a controversial South Korean religious group, NHK reported.

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, pleaded guilty to killing Abe in July 2022 while the former leader was giving an election campaign speech in Nara. The Nara District Court confirmed the verdict and handed down a life sentence, in line with prosecutors' demands. The trial, which began in October, saw Yamagami admit to murder.

Abe, one of Japan's most influential politicians, was serving as a lawmaker after stepping down as prime minister when he was shot dead. Hi...