South Korea expresses deep regret over Japanese PM’s offering to Yasukuni

South Korea has expressed its “deep regret” after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrinein Tokyo, which is considered a symbol of Japan’s militaristic past.

Japanese media reported that Ishiba had sent a ritual offering to the war shrine, in celebration of the autumn festival. This is the first offering of its kind since became prime ministeron October 1st.

“We express our deep disappointment and regret at the actions of the responsible leaders of Japan: that they have again offered a tribute or visited the Yasukuni Shrine,” said the spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of Foreign AffairsLee Jae-woong.

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In addition, the spokesperson announced that they urged the leaders of the new Japanese Cabinet to “face history honestly” and show “humble reflection and genuine atonement,” through their actions, for the “mistakes of the past.”

Lee Jae-woong added that the actions Japan takes from now on will be the basis for building a future-oriented bilateral relationship between both nations.

A symbol of Japan’s military past and historical tensions in Asia

Yasukuni Shrine honors Japanese soldiers who died in combat, including some war criminals convicted for their role in World War II and the Japanese occupation of various Asian countries, such as Korea and China.

For South Korea, which suffered from Japanese occupation between 1910 and 1945 and extreme violence by the Japanese, visits or offerings by that country’s leaders to the shrine are perceived as a lack of repentance or glorification of Japanese militarism.