S Korea expresses worry about Abe's offering to shrine

SEOUL -- South Korea on Tuesday expressed its deep worry about Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ritual offering to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, urging Tokyo to show its sincere repent over the past militarism.

Seoul's foreign ministry said in a statement that the country is deeply worried and disappointed at political leaders of Japanese government and parliament for repeatedly making ritual offerings and paying respect to the Yasukuni Shrine that glorifies Japan's war of aggression.

The statement urged Japanese politicians to show its humble introspection and sincere repent over past atrocities with action based on a right perception of history in order to win the international society's trust and go toward the future.

The statement came a day after Abe made the masakaki tree offering to the controversial shrine under the name of the prime minister.

Among Japanese politicians who made ritual offering on the first day of its four-day autumn festival were Lower House Speaker Tadamori Oshima and Upper House President Chuichi Date as well as Yasuhisa Shiozaki, the minister of health, labor and welfare.

The shrine has been a source of diplomatic friction in the region for decades as it honors 14 Class-A convicted World War II criminals as well as millions of the nation's war dead.

Abe had visited the war-linked shrine in December 2013 since he became the prime minister the previous year, causing harsh rebukes from China and South Korea which suffered most from brutalities by the militaristic Japan.

Since then, Abe has made ritual offerings during the spring and autumn festivals.