Key facts
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine.
- South Korea's foreign ministry expressed deep disappointment and regret.
- The Yasukuni Shrine honors Japanese war dead, including Class A war criminals.
The South Korean government expressed regret on Saturday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, a site viewed as a symbol of Japan's imperialistic past. Takaichi sent the offering in her capacity as prime minister to mark the start of the shrine's autumn festival. The Yasukuni Shrine honors approximately 2.46 million Japanese war dead, including 14 Class A criminals convicted for their roles in World War II. In a statement, Seoul's foreign ministry said it "once again expresses deep disappointment and regret" that responsible Japanese leaders have "repeatedly sent offerings to or visited Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's past war of aggression and enshrines war criminals." The ministry urged Japan's leaders to "face history squarely and demonstrate humble reflection on and sincere remorse for the past through action."